I have been working with the boys on manners. When I was a kid my mom used to read us "Miss Manners" by Judith Martin. Any and every small rule of behavior was covered in her books. We grew up constantly hearing "Miss Manner says..."
Anyway, at dinner the other day I was trying to get the boys to chew with their mouths closed and to stop talking with their mouths full. However, I made the mistake of telling them that if they absolutely HAD to talk that they could cover their mouths so no one could see their partially chewed food. So now throughout dinner the boys will cover their mouths, mumbling through a mouthful of food, "Mom, look at me!" Then they will exaggeratedly demonstrate how nicely they chew with their mouths closed. Not quite what I was going for, but at least they are trying.
Also, James has discovered burping. He does it quite frequently- not usually on purpose but certainly more than necessary. Today as he was talking to me he let out a nice big one.
Me: (trying to remind James of his manners) Excuse me.
James: No. Excuse ME!
My kids make me laugh every day!
Oh and Matthew is rolling over and saying "Dadadadadadadada". Why is it they always say dada first?!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
the REAL houswives of Delaware Co.
You gotta love reality tv- mostly because reality has nothing to do with it. I saw a commercial for "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" or something and all I could do was laugh and shake my head. Seriously, name five stay at home moms YOU know who actually spend their day at the spa and go out clubbing at night! It just make me wonder, is that what single people really think we do? Or are these just the abstract stereotypes from those execs in NYC and LA?
On Regis and Kelly the other day (yes, I admit I was actually watching that show- I turn on the tv for background noise when I clean) they were reading a list out of a magazine on the top fads women hope will go away in the next decade. Now, I can't remember them all, but here are the few that I do remember:
1) fake tans
Kelly's reaction: What?! Absolutely not!
My reaction: Whatever, maybe there will be less skin cancer if people stop wasting their money fake baking.
2) dark nail polish
Kelly's reaction: No! I love my dark nail polish!
My reaction: I am lucky if I get my toenails painted when I wear sandals in the summer. Forget about fingernail polish, no matter what color!
3) fishnet stockings
Kelly's reaction: Well, maybe, but they are still nice to wear for certain occasions.
(Jeff Probst who was co-hosting that day: "No way! Those are sexy!")
My reaction: That's a current trend? I haven't worn fishnets since my dance recital when I was 9.
4) skinny jeans
Kelly's reaction: I don't know. They look nice but sometimes it is hard to get them over my heels.
My reaction: I have had three kids. There is nothing skinny about my jeans!
5) ultra low rise jeans
Kelly's reaction: No! I love those. If jeans sit at the waist then you have to pop open the button at dinner. (Jeff Probst: They are sexy!)
My reaction: Not practical for crawling on the floor with the kids plus not very compatible with g's.
6) big SUVs
Kelly's reaction: No! I love my SUV. How else would I get my kids and their stuff where they need to be? Of course my next one will be a hybrid.
My reaction: I have to agree with Kelly on this one. Seriously, how do you expect to go anywhere with a husband and three kids and all of the stuff that accompanies them in a little four door sedan?!
(I actually had a friend once tell me that there was no excuse in the world to need a minivan or suv when you could just drive a subaru or four door sedan. I wanted to introduce her to my neighbor with nine kids or let her see my back of my minivan which was full of a stroller and other necessary baby gear that would not fit in a smaller vehicle. Of course, that was her point of view before she had kids. I wonder how she feels now that she has one?)
So my point- (I do have one, honest) is that whoever is producing these shows and magazine articles are so far off base with what average, run-of-the-mill stay-at-home moms think and feel and do. Or I am a lot more boring than I thought? Are my other "Mommy Friends" actually spending their days at the spa and clubbing at night in fishnets and skinny jeans?
On Regis and Kelly the other day (yes, I admit I was actually watching that show- I turn on the tv for background noise when I clean) they were reading a list out of a magazine on the top fads women hope will go away in the next decade. Now, I can't remember them all, but here are the few that I do remember:
1) fake tans
Kelly's reaction: What?! Absolutely not!
My reaction: Whatever, maybe there will be less skin cancer if people stop wasting their money fake baking.
2) dark nail polish
Kelly's reaction: No! I love my dark nail polish!
My reaction: I am lucky if I get my toenails painted when I wear sandals in the summer. Forget about fingernail polish, no matter what color!
3) fishnet stockings
Kelly's reaction: Well, maybe, but they are still nice to wear for certain occasions.
(Jeff Probst who was co-hosting that day: "No way! Those are sexy!")
My reaction: That's a current trend? I haven't worn fishnets since my dance recital when I was 9.
4) skinny jeans
Kelly's reaction: I don't know. They look nice but sometimes it is hard to get them over my heels.
My reaction: I have had three kids. There is nothing skinny about my jeans!
5) ultra low rise jeans
Kelly's reaction: No! I love those. If jeans sit at the waist then you have to pop open the button at dinner. (Jeff Probst: They are sexy!)
My reaction: Not practical for crawling on the floor with the kids plus not very compatible with g's.
6) big SUVs
Kelly's reaction: No! I love my SUV. How else would I get my kids and their stuff where they need to be? Of course my next one will be a hybrid.
My reaction: I have to agree with Kelly on this one. Seriously, how do you expect to go anywhere with a husband and three kids and all of the stuff that accompanies them in a little four door sedan?!
(I actually had a friend once tell me that there was no excuse in the world to need a minivan or suv when you could just drive a subaru or four door sedan. I wanted to introduce her to my neighbor with nine kids or let her see my back of my minivan which was full of a stroller and other necessary baby gear that would not fit in a smaller vehicle. Of course, that was her point of view before she had kids. I wonder how she feels now that she has one?)
So my point- (I do have one, honest) is that whoever is producing these shows and magazine articles are so far off base with what average, run-of-the-mill stay-at-home moms think and feel and do. Or I am a lot more boring than I thought? Are my other "Mommy Friends" actually spending their days at the spa and clubbing at night in fishnets and skinny jeans?
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
beyond exhausted (warning, serious gripeing ahead)
Is there a term for beyond exhausted? Catatonic? Comatose, maybe? Well, that is where I am these days.
My dear, sweet baby boy is getting too big and too strong to sleep in his bouncy seat. He has slept in his bouncy seat pretty much every night since he was born... until Monday, that is. At approximately 2:30 am (so I guess technically it was Tuesday morning) I heard him wake up and fuss a little. As I was making the zombie stumble to the attic (the warmest room in our house hence Matthews temporary bedroom), I heard him let out a wail that was clearly about more than being hungry. When I opened the attic door he was still strapped in his bouncy seat, but it was now on top of him and he was laying on his head! No worries, it was the side of his head so he wasn't suffocating, but he was clearly not happy about the situation.
After I calmed him and fed him I tried to fight through my mind-numbing exhaustion to decide where to have him sleep the rest of the night, as the bouncy seat was clearly not an option anymore. I ended up proping him on a pillow so his head was raised (his chronically stuffy nose was the whole reason he was sleeping in the bouncy in the first place) and the suggled up next to him to finish out the night. Matthew woke up about every half hour to fuss for a minute and then went back to sleep. He followed that pattern until about 7:15am when I left him sleeping soundly to go and get Samuel ready for school.
Last night I slept him in his crib for the first time. He had a hard time going to sleep and eventually crashed around 9pm. An hour and a half later than usual. He then proceeded to wake up at 11:00pm (after which point I went to bed), 3:30am and then was up for the day at 5:30am. Since John's pager went off around 2:00am and James came in our room for some reason around 5:00am, it was a ROUGH night. John had relocated to the attic at some point since he had a hard time getting back to sleep after his page so I brought the very awake, very loud Matthew into our room with me. I tried to get him to lay down with me but he started screaming. My final soultion: I hung his jumper in the doorway of our bathroom and put him in it. He was still loud off and on, but at least I got a few cat naps in. I woke up to silence at 6:45 and realized that he had fallen asleep in his jumper! I pulled him out, put him in bed with me and went back to sleep only to be woken up by James at 7:15 and then Samuel at 8:00 when I finally dragged myself out of bed for the day. I am so tired today that I don't even have a word to describe it.
Nights like these are one of the things about having a newborn that I must have blocked out! Anyone want to pull the night shift tonight?
My dear, sweet baby boy is getting too big and too strong to sleep in his bouncy seat. He has slept in his bouncy seat pretty much every night since he was born... until Monday, that is. At approximately 2:30 am (so I guess technically it was Tuesday morning) I heard him wake up and fuss a little. As I was making the zombie stumble to the attic (the warmest room in our house hence Matthews temporary bedroom), I heard him let out a wail that was clearly about more than being hungry. When I opened the attic door he was still strapped in his bouncy seat, but it was now on top of him and he was laying on his head! No worries, it was the side of his head so he wasn't suffocating, but he was clearly not happy about the situation.
After I calmed him and fed him I tried to fight through my mind-numbing exhaustion to decide where to have him sleep the rest of the night, as the bouncy seat was clearly not an option anymore. I ended up proping him on a pillow so his head was raised (his chronically stuffy nose was the whole reason he was sleeping in the bouncy in the first place) and the suggled up next to him to finish out the night. Matthew woke up about every half hour to fuss for a minute and then went back to sleep. He followed that pattern until about 7:15am when I left him sleeping soundly to go and get Samuel ready for school.
Last night I slept him in his crib for the first time. He had a hard time going to sleep and eventually crashed around 9pm. An hour and a half later than usual. He then proceeded to wake up at 11:00pm (after which point I went to bed), 3:30am and then was up for the day at 5:30am. Since John's pager went off around 2:00am and James came in our room for some reason around 5:00am, it was a ROUGH night. John had relocated to the attic at some point since he had a hard time getting back to sleep after his page so I brought the very awake, very loud Matthew into our room with me. I tried to get him to lay down with me but he started screaming. My final soultion: I hung his jumper in the doorway of our bathroom and put him in it. He was still loud off and on, but at least I got a few cat naps in. I woke up to silence at 6:45 and realized that he had fallen asleep in his jumper! I pulled him out, put him in bed with me and went back to sleep only to be woken up by James at 7:15 and then Samuel at 8:00 when I finally dragged myself out of bed for the day. I am so tired today that I don't even have a word to describe it.
Nights like these are one of the things about having a newborn that I must have blocked out! Anyone want to pull the night shift tonight?
Saturday, January 23, 2010
wii
My inlaws gave the boys a wii for Christmas. I wasn't too excited until one day John brought home wii Mario Carts. Now, I am sorry to say, I play the wii at least as much as the kids do. The game itself is fun enough, but part of my fondness for it was established about 10 years ago...
Just after John and I were married we were asked to babysit a family of five kids for a week while their mom went out to Utah. The kids' dad had passed away a few months before and you could see them struggling to make sense of life without him. But really, tragedy or no, these kids were amazing! They were all so smart and sweet and they won me over instantaneously. The oldest of the kids was in high school and the youngest, James, was about four years old. So what does this have to do with playing the wii? Well, James' favorite thing was to play nintendo Mario Carts. He would wrangle John and I into playing with him at least once a day. I never really played video games as a kid so I was terrible at it. James, on the other hand, was actually pretty good! When we would finally agree to play James would jump up and run downstairs to the basement yelling, "I'm gonna beat you! I'm gonna beat you!" and all I could do was laughingly agree with him.
After our week of babysitting was over, John and I agreed on two things:
1) We were not ready for kids just yet no matter how sweet and well behaved and
2) One of our children would be named James
Every day as my own four year old James finagles me into playing wii Mario Cart with him, I feel a little twinge of deja vu and almost hear another James cheering "I'm gonna beat you! I'm gonna beat you!"
So to James I. wherever you are out there, I call for a rematch!
Just after John and I were married we were asked to babysit a family of five kids for a week while their mom went out to Utah. The kids' dad had passed away a few months before and you could see them struggling to make sense of life without him. But really, tragedy or no, these kids were amazing! They were all so smart and sweet and they won me over instantaneously. The oldest of the kids was in high school and the youngest, James, was about four years old. So what does this have to do with playing the wii? Well, James' favorite thing was to play nintendo Mario Carts. He would wrangle John and I into playing with him at least once a day. I never really played video games as a kid so I was terrible at it. James, on the other hand, was actually pretty good! When we would finally agree to play James would jump up and run downstairs to the basement yelling, "I'm gonna beat you! I'm gonna beat you!" and all I could do was laughingly agree with him.
After our week of babysitting was over, John and I agreed on two things:
1) We were not ready for kids just yet no matter how sweet and well behaved and
2) One of our children would be named James
Every day as my own four year old James finagles me into playing wii Mario Cart with him, I feel a little twinge of deja vu and almost hear another James cheering "I'm gonna beat you! I'm gonna beat you!"
So to James I. wherever you are out there, I call for a rematch!
Friday, January 22, 2010
cooking follow up
For those of you who asked, here is the basic menu. We only planned out the main course for each day then I do whatever side/vegi/fruit (Ok, not so many vegis) I feel like making.
Week 1
Sun: steak or chicken nuggets
Mon: chicken stir fry
Tues: pizza
Wed: cheese steaks
Thur: chicken cutlets/chicken parm
Fri: tacos
Sat: free choice (eat out, sandwiches, pancakes or french toast)
Week 2
Sun: chicken enchiladas
Mon: london broil
Tues: pizza or leftovers
Wed: chicken cheese steaks
Thur: steak fajitas (using leftover london broil)
Fri: grilled cheese sandwiches
Sat: free choice
Week 3
Sun: pot roast
Mon: spaghetti and meatballs
Tues: pizza or leftovers
Wed: meatball sandwiches
Thur: pork chops
Fri: meatloaf
Sat: free choice
Week 4
Sun: ham
Mon: sloppy joes
Tues: pizza or leftovers
Wed: grinders (these are baked hoagies)
Thur: chicken and rice casserole
Fri: grilled burgers or hot dogs
Sat: free choice
Like I said, it is very basic for my picky eaters. I am planning on adding new dishes and mixing things around as the kids get used to eating whatever I put in front of them. I have been pleasantly surprised by a few things that the boys enjoyed. Samuel LOVED the cheese steaks and the chicken enchiladas. Who knew?! I am more than willing to share recipies for any of these. It has been fun learning some new ways to make some family standards and experimenting to make some smaller amounts so that we aren't overwhelmed by leftovers.
Week 1
Sun: steak or chicken nuggets
Mon: chicken stir fry
Tues: pizza
Wed: cheese steaks
Thur: chicken cutlets/chicken parm
Fri: tacos
Sat: free choice (eat out, sandwiches, pancakes or french toast)
Week 2
Sun: chicken enchiladas
Mon: london broil
Tues: pizza or leftovers
Wed: chicken cheese steaks
Thur: steak fajitas (using leftover london broil)
Fri: grilled cheese sandwiches
Sat: free choice
Week 3
Sun: pot roast
Mon: spaghetti and meatballs
Tues: pizza or leftovers
Wed: meatball sandwiches
Thur: pork chops
Fri: meatloaf
Sat: free choice
Week 4
Sun: ham
Mon: sloppy joes
Tues: pizza or leftovers
Wed: grinders (these are baked hoagies)
Thur: chicken and rice casserole
Fri: grilled burgers or hot dogs
Sat: free choice
Like I said, it is very basic for my picky eaters. I am planning on adding new dishes and mixing things around as the kids get used to eating whatever I put in front of them. I have been pleasantly surprised by a few things that the boys enjoyed. Samuel LOVED the cheese steaks and the chicken enchiladas. Who knew?! I am more than willing to share recipies for any of these. It has been fun learning some new ways to make some family standards and experimenting to make some smaller amounts so that we aren't overwhelmed by leftovers.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
confession
I hate cooking!
I'm sorry to say it, but it is so true. Baking I enjoy but cooking, well, let's just say I would rather be used for experimental medical procedures. Fortunately for me I had a great excuse not to cook what with being very pregnant and then having a newborn to take care of. I really enjoyed the luxurious seven months off I gave myself. But along with the new year I have turned over a new leaf. One of my New Year's resolutions was to cook dinner for my family every night-- ambitious is putting it mildly.
Anyhow, John sat down with me and we drew up a dinner calendar for the month which has been immensly helpful. Just having the chore of deciding what to make already done for me makes preparing the dinner not so awful.
Of course I still have the problems with cooking that existed before I took my pregnancy hiatus
1) I am married to the world's pickiest eater
2) My children resemble their father in almost every way-including his pickiness
3) I still really just don't like to do it.
So what John and I have done is plan meals that have at least one thing that everyone will eat and then we have instated a rule that we all (John icluded) have to eat at least have one small portion of everything that is served for dinner. I also make a dessert every night. Other than the first week when I thought I was going to strangle my kids because they whined so much, it has worked out surprisingly well. The dessert has been especially helpful as an incentive to get the kids to finish their food.
So the results from my cooking resolution so far:
My kids (and husband) are eating better than they have in a long time. Since we are having a real dinner, ready at a regular time, we are all snacking less and eating more healthily. As much as a struggle as it is for me to do this every day (yesterday I was rolling meatballs while bouncing Matthew in the baby bjorn), it is obviously what my big boys need and that makes me feel like a better mom! It is totally worth it.
I'm sorry to say it, but it is so true. Baking I enjoy but cooking, well, let's just say I would rather be used for experimental medical procedures. Fortunately for me I had a great excuse not to cook what with being very pregnant and then having a newborn to take care of. I really enjoyed the luxurious seven months off I gave myself. But along with the new year I have turned over a new leaf. One of my New Year's resolutions was to cook dinner for my family every night-- ambitious is putting it mildly.
Anyhow, John sat down with me and we drew up a dinner calendar for the month which has been immensly helpful. Just having the chore of deciding what to make already done for me makes preparing the dinner not so awful.
Of course I still have the problems with cooking that existed before I took my pregnancy hiatus
1) I am married to the world's pickiest eater
2) My children resemble their father in almost every way-including his pickiness
3) I still really just don't like to do it.
So what John and I have done is plan meals that have at least one thing that everyone will eat and then we have instated a rule that we all (John icluded) have to eat at least have one small portion of everything that is served for dinner. I also make a dessert every night. Other than the first week when I thought I was going to strangle my kids because they whined so much, it has worked out surprisingly well. The dessert has been especially helpful as an incentive to get the kids to finish their food.
So the results from my cooking resolution so far:
My kids (and husband) are eating better than they have in a long time. Since we are having a real dinner, ready at a regular time, we are all snacking less and eating more healthily. As much as a struggle as it is for me to do this every day (yesterday I was rolling meatballs while bouncing Matthew in the baby bjorn), it is obviously what my big boys need and that makes me feel like a better mom! It is totally worth it.
Friday, January 15, 2010
movies and books
John and I signed up for Netflix a few months so I have been furiously catching up on all of the movies I wanted to see but never got the chance. Below are my reviews of a few- in case you are interested.
Julie and Julia: I inexplicably LOVED this movie! I laughed my head off at the entire pretext and Julie's freak-outs in the kitchen. I loved the characters and the pretext and pretty much everything about it.
John's comment: The very few funny places were not worth the time it took to watch the entire movie. I think, secretly, he liked it, too! Ok, not really.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: Although I wasn't majorly impressed with the character development (aside from maybe the mother and the main little boy), the movie was a thought provoking glimpse of how regular German families/families of soldiers reacted to the atrocities of WWII. Actually, the indoctrination process of antisemitism reminded me a little of "The Book Thief" (a good read!). However, the ending made me physically ill. I would not recommend this movie to anyone with kids or a tender heart or feelings in general.
John's comment: It was not as good as some of the other WWII movies we have seen (ie: A Beautiful Life), but not bad.
Terminator Salvation: This is probably my favorite of the Terminator movies. The only reason I say that is that we really enjoyed the Terminator: Sarah Conner Chronicles tv series and since this movie was all John Conner all the time (plus, Christian Bale to boot!) I felt some sort of connection to the characters. I was also not nearly as terrified as I thought I would be. Can we say desensitized?
John: It was okay.
(FYI: John's comment "It was okay" could mean anything from so so to loved it, just so you know.)
As for some good books:
Our book club just read The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. Anyone with boys should read this book and then read it to their boys. It is so much fun! (appropriate for kids maybe 8+)
I also just reread Catching Fire which is book two of The Hunger Games series. Oh. My. Goodness. Read this! I have a copy if anyone wants to borrow it. (YA Lit)
I also just finished The Mislaid Magician which is book three of the Sorcery and Cecilia series. These are fun books written as letters of correspondence. There are two authors for these books and they don't discuss the plot ahead of time so they never quite know where the story is headed. (YA Lit)
Speaking of books written as letters of correspondence, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a great read! (adult historical fiction)
And my last recommendation is a book I have not yet read but it is sitting on my to-read shelf. It is Heir to Sevenwaters, book four (I think) continuing on the Daughter of the Forest series by Juliet Marillier. She is an incredible writer. Her stories are beautifully told and the characters are riviting and thoroughly enjoyable. (adult fiction/fantasy)
Julie and Julia: I inexplicably LOVED this movie! I laughed my head off at the entire pretext and Julie's freak-outs in the kitchen. I loved the characters and the pretext and pretty much everything about it.
John's comment: The very few funny places were not worth the time it took to watch the entire movie. I think, secretly, he liked it, too! Ok, not really.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: Although I wasn't majorly impressed with the character development (aside from maybe the mother and the main little boy), the movie was a thought provoking glimpse of how regular German families/families of soldiers reacted to the atrocities of WWII. Actually, the indoctrination process of antisemitism reminded me a little of "The Book Thief" (a good read!). However, the ending made me physically ill. I would not recommend this movie to anyone with kids or a tender heart or feelings in general.
John's comment: It was not as good as some of the other WWII movies we have seen (ie: A Beautiful Life), but not bad.
Terminator Salvation: This is probably my favorite of the Terminator movies. The only reason I say that is that we really enjoyed the Terminator: Sarah Conner Chronicles tv series and since this movie was all John Conner all the time (plus, Christian Bale to boot!) I felt some sort of connection to the characters. I was also not nearly as terrified as I thought I would be. Can we say desensitized?
John: It was okay.
(FYI: John's comment "It was okay" could mean anything from so so to loved it, just so you know.)
As for some good books:
Our book club just read The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. Anyone with boys should read this book and then read it to their boys. It is so much fun! (appropriate for kids maybe 8+)
I also just reread Catching Fire which is book two of The Hunger Games series. Oh. My. Goodness. Read this! I have a copy if anyone wants to borrow it. (YA Lit)
I also just finished The Mislaid Magician which is book three of the Sorcery and Cecilia series. These are fun books written as letters of correspondence. There are two authors for these books and they don't discuss the plot ahead of time so they never quite know where the story is headed. (YA Lit)
Speaking of books written as letters of correspondence, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a great read! (adult historical fiction)
And my last recommendation is a book I have not yet read but it is sitting on my to-read shelf. It is Heir to Sevenwaters, book four (I think) continuing on the Daughter of the Forest series by Juliet Marillier. She is an incredible writer. Her stories are beautifully told and the characters are riviting and thoroughly enjoyable. (adult fiction/fantasy)
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