Don't hate me because I'm beautiful

Earlier in the summer Mia had admired various girls she saw wearing eye shadow. She was enthralled by the look. I had told her then she had to be older then her cousin Lauren (who's 15) before she can wear eye shadow. Lauren was visiting when I told her and I pointed out how Lauren didn't wear it even though she's 15. Skip to yesterday. It was a parent visitation day at Mia & Mason's school and Sarah (a girl Mia talks about FREQUENTLY) came and sat to work at the desk next to Mason. Mia was standing on the other side of me and we noticed that Sarah was doing double digit addition. Mia says, "Is Sarah older than Lauren?" I think she's asking this because of the difficulty of the math and I answer, "no". Mia: "Then why does she get to have painted eyes?" I look at Sarah and then notice that she is indeed wearing eye shadow. I say, "Well, maybe they have different rules in Sarah's house." Wow, I was blindsided by that one and not sure what to say. Why am I having to worry about make-up at 4-years old?

Today after lunch Mia and Mason went into Mia's room to play and it was quiet for a while. Never a good sign. So I open the door and Mason is playing nicely (as nice as boys play) on the floor and here is Mia......
I didn't fly off the handle and to be honest I don't remember what I said but she went into the bathroom about 15 minutes later and washed it off. By herself! What Mike and I can't figure out is how did she do it? Did she use a mirror or just free-hand it. Pretty good actually for 4. So when we have our girls' day I will probably let her wear some eye shadow for a "special occasion". I told Mia when she cuts her hair for "Locks of Love" we will do a special girls' day.

Smackdown at the Manger

I bought a Playmobil nativity set at Target a few weeks ago for the kids to have their own set to play with at Christmas. Mason was with me and he carried the box the whole time in the store with the deal that he could open it when he got home but I had to pay for it first. We had more errands to run and went to pick up Mia from school (that was the day Mason was too sick to go to school but he seemed fine during the day). My plan was that he would have forgotten about the nativity set and I would hide it until closer to Christmas time. I had successfully gotten into the house and hidden it without him noticing but he started crying to me for his new toy. I did make the deal with him in the store that he could have it when he came home so I begrudgingly gave it to him (only the big pieces: people and animals). He has been playing with the pieces everyday but it's not quite the nativity story I know. Watching him play with it is like watching WWF and Mary is getting the smackdown from one of the Wise Men. It's so interesting to watch your kids play and watch how they have the dolls interact with each other. There's always a "bad guy" and I hear stuff like, "I love you, I'm going to marry you" and "I'm going to kill you". The storyline of their play always seems to be based around a movie such as: The Little Mermaid or Sleeping Beauty. Hence, the "I'm going to kill you" and bad guys/witches.

Mason also likes to make sure he plays with the Ariel Barbie and that she is topless. Out of all the Barbies to choose from he always has to have Ariel. Since he also likes Daphne from Scoobie Doo.... I'm thinking he has a thing for red heads, must be the Irish in him.

As good as it gets

How do kids know to not cooperate when you get one chance to take a picture?

It was Halloween night and I just wanted a "decent" (well, I'll be honest...a really cute one) picture of Jasmine and her tiger, Raja. I tried multiple times and either they take turns not looking, looking but not smiling or looking but having fingers in the mouth, nose, etc.

Jasmine had to pack on a few pounds since she is now in Michigan and it is darn cold on Halloween. Raja decided after a few houses that he wanted to be carried the whole time so he got to go trick-or-treating in a pink stroller. Truly very scary. What else was scary? Raja's manners! He would walk right up to the bowl, stick his hand in, grab a piece of candy and run back to the stroller. So I'd say, "Where's the Thank You?".... nothing...."How about a Happy Halloween?"..... nothing....."I better hear something."..... then barely audible and not looking at the person....a whisper "Thank You". Jasmine, on the other hand, had to be dragged away as she had to have a conversation with everyone (especially if they had pets). Gotta love Halloween.

A day of nothing...well, there was football

Woke up late and thought I was going to miss church but when I was cleaning up breakfast realized, we still had an hour. So off to church to save our souls until next week:)

Then we watched the Lions play the Broncos. We usually don't watch Sunday football but this was a different Lions team today. Then the big game between the Patriots and the Colts. It was hard to pick a side to root for: Tom Brady did play for Michigan but Peyton Manning is just so damn likable. The Colts coach is also from Jackson, Michigan so I rooted for the Colts. Peyton did not disappoint either but they did lose in the end. I did enjoy another one of his "Priceless Commercials" too. He is really pretty funny and like I said... really likable.

Ninja Kicks

Oh, I soooo wish I had my video camera going today. My mom and sister came to visit this afternoon and at one point we all went down and jumped on the trampoline. Mia was showing off her "tricks"....what she calls: bunny hops, ninja kicks, butt bounces and twisters. I never thought I'd see my mom (she's in her sixties) jumping on the trampoline trying to do ninja kicks. So many times she'd start to loose her balance and head for the side. I thought she was going to fall off. Of course, this is the woman who took my rollerblades (from my garage sale) because she wants to try rollerblading. Does she not realize gravity is not as friendly to older bodies?

On an even better note I got to see Michigan come back and win a game I thought they were throwing away. I'm screaming, jumping and dancing around. Mason says, "Mama, why are you doing that?" I say, "Because I'm excited that "Go Blue" is doing good stuff. Say, "Yessss" (I show the crouch with arm motion). Mason: "I don't think so". Mia pipes up, "Yeah, I say "Go Bucks"... Sorry". November 17th will be a warzone in this house.

What about Bob

My husband got on my case again about my blog..... how stupid it is etc. He said he can't even talk to me anymore without worrying it's going to be on my blog. Sooo untrue. I've taken great pains to try to edit what goes on my blog for fear of getting someone else upset. For instance, if I'm mad at my mother... I don't vent it on the blog because I know she will read it. So know that my way to vent and rant has become edited, I can't believe I'm still getting flack. This is what it comes down to. Bob, my BIL, teasing Mike about my blog. Here's what I say, "Men, Get over it!" Stop reading my blog if you don't like it and let me get back to my so-called insignificant life.

Healthy, Healthy, Healthy......Sick

Sunday I woke up sick. You don't it suppose it was from comforting my 2 kids and having them cough in my face for the past 2 weeks? At any rate, life goes on because I'm the mom and I don't get sick days in my line of work. Yesterday, Mike came home early to re-do the dog kennel because we discovered the dog has been eating rocks. (Mike built him a little deck) Here is what I remember. I picked the kids up from school, we went outside, we came in and had a snack, I laid down........I woke up to find no kids. I walk outside and the kids are out on the trampoline with Mike. I inform Mike I'm taking the Nyquil and laying down. At some point everyone is back inside and Mike tells me to go lay down in the Mason's bedroom. (Apparently he doesn't like listening to me hack all night). Mike wakes me up, it's 8:30am and I've been sleeping for over 14 hours. To be honest, I could probably go right back to sleep as I'm still sick. I have to admit the sleep was well, GLORIOUS. I love my kids but I do miss sleep.

Beware of the Tiger

Creative kids at work

We went to Deanna's Playhouse because Ms. Arts is now there and they painted pumpkins. Mia has been begging me to let her paint her pumpkin (she was adamant she didn't want to carve this year) and I kept putting her off because I didn't want to deal with the mess. Thank you Ms. Arts! The kids love playing at the playhouse but I don't go all that often because of the cost and their hours (10-3). Ms. Arts kept the playhouse open until 5pm and told me she'll open the playhouse earlier if I want.... just call her. I just may do that for the Moms group sometime. We've talked about going there more but when they open at 10am and most people had to leave by 11-ish to pick up a child at preschool.... well it just wasn't worth the $5 admission for an hour. Yes, they charge the parents too. I digress. We had a great time. This was after a great time at my friend's house for a playdate. The kids had a full day. They still have a cough now and then but I think they're non-contagious and on their way to being healthy.

I couldn't believe the concentration of the creative minds. I will be definitely be going back and taking advantage of creativeness that is not in my own home.

Oh, and just to note Mason was in the car for about 6 hours today and kept his pants dry. I'm so happy I could cry.

Through wheeze and cough..... he stayed dry

When Mason first got sick I went back to putting Pull-ups on him for fear he just won't be able to control himself. He amazingly still kept the Pull-up dry and told me when he had to go potty. He had been dry for over two weeks so I think he is officially "potty-trained". However, due to being sick there was a lot of whining and stubbornness today. There was also a moment of blatant peeing on the floor (literally 4 feet away from the potty) because he was mad at me. Where or where do my kids get that mule-like stubbornness?

ER on Wednesday night

Took Mason to the doctor yesterday and got sent straight to the ER for a breathing treatment and steroids. On the plus side, Mason did sleep all night. Sure there were some coughing fits and a slight wheeze but I got some sleep. Not a lot of sleep but some. I sure hope today plays out better.

Out of curiosity I googled "Christie Phillips". This is #1 on the list that pops up: http://www.christiephilips.com/. I think it's funny that she's Asian too.

Vacation plans: Mike is contemplating Disneyworld. Now to see if we can pull it off.

The start of Day 7

Yesterday Mason's fever disappeared and I thought we were on the road to recovery. I let my guard down and of course I was ambushed. At around dinnertime the fever came back and it was the worst night yet. So today we will be visiting the doctor to make sure it's just croup and hasn't progressed into pneumonia. It's just horrible when your kid seems like he's struggling to breathe and nothing you do helps. Of course, he seems better during the day but just when the doctor's office closes....that's when the bad stuff happens. So you struggle with, "is it bad enough to go to the ER?". I feel like I'm going to lose my mind as I just can't get a break. Even when Mike is home and tries to help me out.....sick kids just want their mama.

I guess the kids are taking care of my "overbooking" our week as I've had to cancel most everything this week. I did drag Mason to school to get his pictures done and he even smiled. I can't wait to see the pictures back. I'm really impressed with Miss Patti the photographer as Mia has always had really good pictures and she took pictures of Mason, Mason & Mia, and Mia in about 10 minutes with smiles.

Day 5: the virus is still controlling our lives

Mia was well enough to go to school today, Mason not.

I feel like I'm writing this blog as some kind of war journal. I'm in front of my computer typing and a few feet over in my bed is Mason. I hear the steady wheeze in the background that's interrupted now and then with coughing, barking and crying. I feel like I'm hunkered down in a bunker listening to outside artillery coming from the enemy. I'm exhausted but yet still think of all the stuff I "have to do" ie. laundry, housecleaning, etc. Thinking about makes me more tired yet every time I cave in and lie down to go to sleep.....the enemy strikes.

This is one of those weeks that I have overplanned myself. Lots of places to go, people to see.......and I don't know if I'll get to do any of it. So to you on the outside with no kids or healthy kids, Live your life! Live it for me and then tell me all about it so that I might live vicariously through others.

Boo!

We've been boo'ed twice. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about....

It starts the first week of October and there is a knock at the door, no one is there, and boo! You've got candy. A bag/box/plate of Halloween treats from an anonymous neighbor rests on the stoop. The kids are excited, the parents... um not so much but we still eat the treats, and then Mom starts to stress because that basket means one thing:You've been boo'ed. Now, you have to boo two of your neighbors, too. Next comes the work of passing on the boo. There is the ghost to trace onto poster-board, the basket to buy and fill with treats - and this cannot be candy corn. It requires a trip to the store for some "good" treats and heaven help you if the person who boo'ed you upped the ante and actually used the oven.

Up to $45 later (slight overstatement), it seems being boo'ed has become a bit of a bother but you can't blow off the boo for fear of being un-neighborly. Did I mention the part where since the kids are little it requires us to ring the doorbell and run away. That's the part I hate the most. I would gladly walk over a treat to a neighbors house but now you want me creeping around the neighborhood like a juvenile delinquent pulling pranks. I swear from now on, I'm targeting the neighbors that don't have kids to spread the fun around (insert evil laugh).

Today, Mia getting better.... Mason just getting full swing into being sick.

So falls the other shoe

As predicted the other child started "barking" earlier this evening. Mia has been running a fever for the past two days so I'm guessing Mason will not be going to school Monday. I was supposed to co-host a craft night at the church tonight but stayed home so Mike wasn't overwhelmed with sick kids.

I did try another new recipe from the Kraft magazine today. We didn't like it too much. Every recipe I have tried from the various Kraft magazines.... we haven't liked. Is it just us? Has anyone tried their recipes and liked them?

The bark of the seal

After a really long day, Mike and I were awakened last night by the "bark of the seal". Yes, that's right Mia has croup. For the first time ever she stayed in bed until noon. Usually when the kids get sick they are up and at 'em as soon as the medicine kicks in. It was a little odd to actually see her staying in bed. Mason, however, shows no signs of being sick yet so he's terribly bored. Should make for a fun weekend.

Supermodel

I had decided earlier that this would be the last year that I have the kid's with the modeling agency. It's just not worth it for the amount of work they get, the finding a babysitter for the other child and taking them out of school to do it. Mason had a job yesterday again so I was a little excited that he gets one last chance of making an ad. (In the past they've always gone with the other children or pulled the merchandise that was supposed to appear in the ad). Well, as always there was another child as a "backup". I would be really surprised if they use him in the ad. At first he wouldn't smile. Then he kept scratching the back of his neck (he does have a bug bite there). Followed by the hand in the mouth and some weird tongue thing. He was with a "fake family" with red Christmas presents. The ad will be Dec 19th. for Meijer I'm pretty sure though it won't be him. Other than the actual pictures he was really well behaved.

When I came home Mia was super clingy and whiny. It was as if she was mad about Mason and I "doing" something without her. I keep telling her when her hair gets long enough we'll go do some girl stuff just the two of us. She has about another inch to go and then her hair will be long enough to donate to "locks of love". I figure will make a girl day out of it. Now what constitutes a "girl" day with a 4 year old?

Miss Teen USA South Carolina 2007 with Subtitles

Unbelievable Good, Unbelievable Bad

The Good- It has been over a week now since Mason has had an accident. He has been wearing underwear during the day and a pull-up at night. Even his pull-up has been dry in the morning. Dare I get excited now? Too late, I'm there already. Of course, I now spend my days in the bathroom while he "finishes up" and I'm still wiping his butt but my days of diapers may be gone.

The Bad- the Miss Teen South Carolina clip. I also saw a clip of her on Good Morning America and she is planning on going to Appalachian State University. My opinion of that school just went down if that's possible.

A weekend in Manistee

We left Holland Friday evening and headed north to see the in-laws. Mike wanted to Duck hunt (no ducks shot), the kids wanted to swim and it's our last chance to see Mike's parents before they migrate to Florida for the winter. It's always interesting to be here to see the genes that have been passed down. Mike's Dad will say something or give a look and I think, "AHA, that's where he got it."
Good weekend for football with both LSU and Cal loosing. Here in the Ohio State household they have mixed feelings. They're excited that things have been shaken up but don't like the #1 rating that is sure to come. Michigan and OSU both tend to choke when given that pressure of a #1 rating. It's been Michigan's MO to lose a game to a "non-ranked" team and then win the rest of the season, even the OSU game just to mess up the Big Ten standings even more. Of course, usually not to a "nobody's heard of you school" and not lose twice in a row. I don't have those hopes this year.
Anyway, back to the grind later tonight.