Carhenge
Mount Rushmore at dusk
Baby Bears at Bear Country
Thursday, June 12, 2014
A First for Everything
Over Memorial Day weekend we took our first ever driving vacation as a family. I mean a thought out, planned, we're going to drive more than four hours to get somewhere driving vacation. Charlie doesn't really like to drive very much, but since we don't have flight benefits anymore and we have to be a little more selective where we fly, driving it is.
It's not like we've never driven anywhere. We drove from Dallas to Denver (although we both swear we never want to do that again) and we have done Dallas to Austin or San Antonio because it would often take the same amount of time to get to the airport, get checked in, wait on the plane and fly as it would to just do the drive. I also did back and forth between Detroit and Chicago with the kids last summer, but we've never actually picked a vacation destination with the sole intent to get there by car.
It was just a three day weekend and we didn't go that far. Mount Rushmore, a seven to eight hour drive. Remember we were going to go there over Labor Day weekend except that it was closed due to the government shutdown? I know a lot of people have already forgotten about that shutdown, but not me because it ruined my vacation plans. Don't mess with my vacations. So we left on Friday night and drove about three to four hours and then got up the next morning and drove some more. It really wasn't bad. Kind of boring, but not bad.
We stopped somewhere in Nebraska to see Carhenge, a little version of Stonehenge made out of cars. It was cute and a good place to stretch our legs. It was kind of lost on the kids but they thought it was cool anyway. We made it to our hotel near Mount Rushmore in the late afternoon so got unpacked, had a s'more on the fire pit in the back (the kids did, Charlie and I passed) and then went to see the night lighting ceremony at Mount Rushmore.
The next day we were going to do alpine sledding and miniature golf after we went to "Bear Country" and made our way through the drive through zoo with lots of bears and other wildlife, but there was a torrential downpour that prevented all that fun. Instead we just went back to Mount Rushmore to check out the exhibit hall and find out a little more about it and then headed home.
Not really a rip roaring vacation, but somewhere we wanted to go and now we don't need to go back for a very long time. My parents took me when I was a kid but I was pretty small and it was definitely different than I remember. That could be due to renovations or it could just be that my memory stinks and I have no idea what I saw when I was that little. I don't know that we will be doing another driving vacation soon, but at least we know we can handle it and there's some pretty interesting, random stuff out there to see.
It's not like we've never driven anywhere. We drove from Dallas to Denver (although we both swear we never want to do that again) and we have done Dallas to Austin or San Antonio because it would often take the same amount of time to get to the airport, get checked in, wait on the plane and fly as it would to just do the drive. I also did back and forth between Detroit and Chicago with the kids last summer, but we've never actually picked a vacation destination with the sole intent to get there by car.
It was just a three day weekend and we didn't go that far. Mount Rushmore, a seven to eight hour drive. Remember we were going to go there over Labor Day weekend except that it was closed due to the government shutdown? I know a lot of people have already forgotten about that shutdown, but not me because it ruined my vacation plans. Don't mess with my vacations. So we left on Friday night and drove about three to four hours and then got up the next morning and drove some more. It really wasn't bad. Kind of boring, but not bad.
We stopped somewhere in Nebraska to see Carhenge, a little version of Stonehenge made out of cars. It was cute and a good place to stretch our legs. It was kind of lost on the kids but they thought it was cool anyway. We made it to our hotel near Mount Rushmore in the late afternoon so got unpacked, had a s'more on the fire pit in the back (the kids did, Charlie and I passed) and then went to see the night lighting ceremony at Mount Rushmore.
The next day we were going to do alpine sledding and miniature golf after we went to "Bear Country" and made our way through the drive through zoo with lots of bears and other wildlife, but there was a torrential downpour that prevented all that fun. Instead we just went back to Mount Rushmore to check out the exhibit hall and find out a little more about it and then headed home.
Not really a rip roaring vacation, but somewhere we wanted to go and now we don't need to go back for a very long time. My parents took me when I was a kid but I was pretty small and it was definitely different than I remember. That could be due to renovations or it could just be that my memory stinks and I have no idea what I saw when I was that little. I don't know that we will be doing another driving vacation soon, but at least we know we can handle it and there's some pretty interesting, random stuff out there to see.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
And Then I Turned 42
With the craziness of everything May, I failed to mention that my birthday was last month. I guess that's what happens when you only post about three times during the month. Anyway, it wasn't a big deal as it was on a weekday and Charlie was out of town (he got home with about an hour to spare) and I don't really make much of a big deal about my birthday anymore. Of course I bought myself a couple nice gifts like some new running shoes, but I don't need a lot of hoopla. In fact, Charlie and I were having a conversation a couple weeks ago about whether we need to start doing more for our birthdays and Mother's/Father's Day not for our benefit but so the kids knew that we are people too and need to be celebrated just as much as they do. I know, waste of time.
So I treated myself to a pedicure and a massage that morning (I had just run a 1/2 marathon two days before so they were both mostly because of that but my birthday was a good back-up excuse) and then for dinner I ran to the grocery store for a rotisserie chicken and a cake, yippee! Nothing too exciting, but a celebration nonetheless and I didn't have to cook.
The girls were sweet and gave me little wooden boxes that they decorated for me to put my rings in, even though I never take them off, and Andy remembered at the end of the day to give me a card that the girls had signed that Charlie had left with him to give me. I just kind of laughed at how Andy had blown off my birthday because he is 11 and is getting a little spacey with the increase in hormones lately, until he showed me a video he made me on his iPad. It is a little redundant, but extremely sweet and thoughtful and nice to watch after a very long day with the kids. When I see this I know that I'm not as bad of a mom as I think I am and although there is definitely room for improvement I must be doing a few things right.
So I treated myself to a pedicure and a massage that morning (I had just run a 1/2 marathon two days before so they were both mostly because of that but my birthday was a good back-up excuse) and then for dinner I ran to the grocery store for a rotisserie chicken and a cake, yippee! Nothing too exciting, but a celebration nonetheless and I didn't have to cook.
The girls were sweet and gave me little wooden boxes that they decorated for me to put my rings in, even though I never take them off, and Andy remembered at the end of the day to give me a card that the girls had signed that Charlie had left with him to give me. I just kind of laughed at how Andy had blown off my birthday because he is 11 and is getting a little spacey with the increase in hormones lately, until he showed me a video he made me on his iPad. It is a little redundant, but extremely sweet and thoughtful and nice to watch after a very long day with the kids. When I see this I know that I'm not as bad of a mom as I think I am and although there is definitely room for improvement I must be doing a few things right.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Like Mother Like Daughter
I got the following email from my mom the day after I wrote that post about taking the kids to the dentist:
"I just finished reading your blog about the kids' dental appointment, and I have to tell you--the first time you went to the dentist's office you had cavities! Yes, you were probably 3 or 4, and you got too many snacks, too, including your secret activity of finding the other kids' Halloween candy in their pillows and eating it at will without their knowledge!
Maybe Amanda takes after you. Do you think?"
Well played, Mom, well played.
"I just finished reading your blog about the kids' dental appointment, and I have to tell you--the first time you went to the dentist's office you had cavities! Yes, you were probably 3 or 4, and you got too many snacks, too, including your secret activity of finding the other kids' Halloween candy in their pillows and eating it at will without their knowledge!
Maybe Amanda takes after you. Do you think?"
Well played, Mom, well played.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
A Handful of Cavities
I have so many stories to tell that I just haven't written down. So many stories for your listening reading pleasure. The last few weeks have been a blur and so I've been writing topics down but never quite making it to the computer to type them up. Suffice it to say after the Muffins event I was completely worn out and then I planned Sarah's birthday party and did a 1/2 marathon in the same weekend and I think it has taken me the last two weeks to finally catch up and be me again. It's probably better that I didn't write anything down because it wouldn't have made any sense and you would have been like, what?
So a couple weeks ago I took the kids to the dentist. Overall they like going to the dentist. I take them to a pediatric dentist so they have video games in the waiting room and they get to watch movies while they are having their teeth cleaned and they get to wear cool sunglasses so the light doesn't bother their eyes and they get all these horribly cheap but wonderful in their eyes toys to pick from when they leave. All I ever got was the scariest hygienist EVER who made my teeth hurt for at least three days because she scraped them so hard and for so long and then a very cheap metal ring that probably turned my fingers green. No wonder going to the dentist when I was a kid was such a terrorizing experience (Mom, you know it's true!).
Sarah was mad that I pulled the kids out of school because she was missing an ice cream party that I knew nothing about and Andy was so happy that he was waiting in the office when I got there. Amanda was just excited she was included. Sarah hates to miss school anyway but the missing the ice cream party was icing on the cake. Which means that I ended up taking the kids out for ice cream after their appointment because otherwise I would have never heard the end of it and I just couldn't put up with that on that particular day especially since Charlie was out of town and wouldn't have to join in the misery of listening to how horrible I was.
Once we arrived to the office and got settled everything was going great until we got to the part when you talk to the dentist. You know, they see the hygienist first and she tells them what a fantastic job they do brushing and just gushes about how wonderful they are and gives them fancy new tooth brushes and floss and then the dentist comes in and makes you feel like crap for not making them brush six times a day.
Basically, Andy looks good but has a few teeth growing in a little weird so we need to go get a second opinion from the orthodontist over the summer. Which reminds me, I still need to set up those appointments. Yes, I said those. The dentist wants me to see two orthodontists that have differing approaches to see which I like better. I get it, but all those appointments, free consultations or not, just bog me down and not make me want to do it. Hence the reason I still haven't called and made them (besides the fact that my days have flown by since said appointment). Sarah's teeth look amazing. No cavities, straight as can be, perfect. Which is great for her because she needs a win and deserves to be better than the other two at something. She kept asking me over and over again who had the best teeth just because she likes to hear she's best at something. Amanda, she was another story.
The kid is only four. She has had two cavities between her top two teeth for over six months and I keep asking them if they can postpone filling them because they are going to fall out soon anyway. That one they continue to agree on and we just brush the crap out of them. But this time the rest of her mouth was not so lucky. She had two that were between two of her back teeth that need to be fixed right away (because those teeth won't fall out until she's at least 10) and two more that are forming between two other teeth. Believe me, it is never a good thing when the dentist says your child has a "handful" of cavities. At four! Could it be because all she ever wants to eat is fruit snacks and candy. Probably. But I did ask if it was a brushing issue and they said it was all about flossing. Yeah, we never used to floss her teeth. We do now. Ugh!
I have a feeling after she gets those fillings that it may be a little easier to keep her off the candy. You know, that stuff causes cavities. If my hunch is correct that will only benefit me when I take her to her well visit so they don't yell at me for her diet as well. I swear that kids gets me in more trouble.
In conclusion, Sarah - positive, Andy - neutral, Amanda - in the negative. Not that we're keeping score or anything, but that would make life a little more interesting right now - as if I needed that!
So a couple weeks ago I took the kids to the dentist. Overall they like going to the dentist. I take them to a pediatric dentist so they have video games in the waiting room and they get to watch movies while they are having their teeth cleaned and they get to wear cool sunglasses so the light doesn't bother their eyes and they get all these horribly cheap but wonderful in their eyes toys to pick from when they leave. All I ever got was the scariest hygienist EVER who made my teeth hurt for at least three days because she scraped them so hard and for so long and then a very cheap metal ring that probably turned my fingers green. No wonder going to the dentist when I was a kid was such a terrorizing experience (Mom, you know it's true!).
Sarah was mad that I pulled the kids out of school because she was missing an ice cream party that I knew nothing about and Andy was so happy that he was waiting in the office when I got there. Amanda was just excited she was included. Sarah hates to miss school anyway but the missing the ice cream party was icing on the cake. Which means that I ended up taking the kids out for ice cream after their appointment because otherwise I would have never heard the end of it and I just couldn't put up with that on that particular day especially since Charlie was out of town and wouldn't have to join in the misery of listening to how horrible I was.
Once we arrived to the office and got settled everything was going great until we got to the part when you talk to the dentist. You know, they see the hygienist first and she tells them what a fantastic job they do brushing and just gushes about how wonderful they are and gives them fancy new tooth brushes and floss and then the dentist comes in and makes you feel like crap for not making them brush six times a day.
Basically, Andy looks good but has a few teeth growing in a little weird so we need to go get a second opinion from the orthodontist over the summer. Which reminds me, I still need to set up those appointments. Yes, I said those. The dentist wants me to see two orthodontists that have differing approaches to see which I like better. I get it, but all those appointments, free consultations or not, just bog me down and not make me want to do it. Hence the reason I still haven't called and made them (besides the fact that my days have flown by since said appointment). Sarah's teeth look amazing. No cavities, straight as can be, perfect. Which is great for her because she needs a win and deserves to be better than the other two at something. She kept asking me over and over again who had the best teeth just because she likes to hear she's best at something. Amanda, she was another story.
The kid is only four. She has had two cavities between her top two teeth for over six months and I keep asking them if they can postpone filling them because they are going to fall out soon anyway. That one they continue to agree on and we just brush the crap out of them. But this time the rest of her mouth was not so lucky. She had two that were between two of her back teeth that need to be fixed right away (because those teeth won't fall out until she's at least 10) and two more that are forming between two other teeth. Believe me, it is never a good thing when the dentist says your child has a "handful" of cavities. At four! Could it be because all she ever wants to eat is fruit snacks and candy. Probably. But I did ask if it was a brushing issue and they said it was all about flossing. Yeah, we never used to floss her teeth. We do now. Ugh!
I have a feeling after she gets those fillings that it may be a little easier to keep her off the candy. You know, that stuff causes cavities. If my hunch is correct that will only benefit me when I take her to her well visit so they don't yell at me for her diet as well. I swear that kids gets me in more trouble.
In conclusion, Sarah - positive, Andy - neutral, Amanda - in the negative. Not that we're keeping score or anything, but that would make life a little more interesting right now - as if I needed that!
Sunday, May 18, 2014
And Then She Was 8
As I mentioned in a previous post, Sarah's birthday was on Mother's Day this year. As we have the last several years, I offered to throw her a birthday party or take her on a trip. She chose a trip to Dallas to go to the indoor water park at Great Wolf Lodge. I just booked the hotel and we will be going in a couple of weeks.
As I also have done, I still let her have a little birthday party. For some reason the kids don't think their birthday has really passed if they get presents and a cake but don't get to share it with someone outside of the family. So on her actual birthday we invited a friend and her family to come over and have burgers, hot dogs and cake, and then I also let her have a small party with only five friends this weekend. She didn't want to do it on her birthday weekend because she didn't want it to interfere with anybody's Mother's Day plans, so we decided to do it the weekend after.
She invited five girls from her class from school to go paint pottery and then come over to our house for pizza and cake. The girls she invited are all very nice, sweet girls that I would be perfectly happy if she stayed friends with them until she graduated high school. A few of them especially are always making sure Sarah is okay when she looks sad and putting their arms around her to comfort her when she is in a foul mood. Just nice girls, which in a world of mean girls is getting harder and harder to come by.
I am so glad there were only five of them because I don't think I could have handled anymore. I don't know how people let their daughters have big sleepover parties in their basements because I could barely handle of few of them in my kitchen and back yard for an hour or two. Luckily my friend, Theresa, one of the girl's moms, came with me to the pottery place and helped keep everybody on track and take pictures.
Although it was small I think Sarah had a great time and really enjoyed everybody's company. She is really looking forward to our trip to Dallas, but was happy to celebrate her special day here as well. The only downside to the whole day was that Theresa's daughter, Kelly, broke her wrist when she slipped of the trapeze bar on our playset. It was at the end of the party and everybody else had gone home. Sarah felt so bad that today she made Kelly a card and we stopped after Andy's baseball game and Sarah and Amanda each picked out a stuffed animal for her and we took it over to her house. She seemed to be doing pretty well, I hope it stays that way.
It's hard for me to believe that Sarah is eight. She definitely has the attitude, but still seems like my little girl. In some ways she is still little, I took her in for her well visit this week and she was only in the 7th percentile for height and 25th percentile for weight. That means that 93% of the kids her age are taller than her and 75% weigh more than her. At this age it's not too noticeable, but if the trend continues in the next few years we will see a difference. For now I'm just trying to deal with the little girls who isn't acting so little anymore.
As I also have done, I still let her have a little birthday party. For some reason the kids don't think their birthday has really passed if they get presents and a cake but don't get to share it with someone outside of the family. So on her actual birthday we invited a friend and her family to come over and have burgers, hot dogs and cake, and then I also let her have a small party with only five friends this weekend. She didn't want to do it on her birthday weekend because she didn't want it to interfere with anybody's Mother's Day plans, so we decided to do it the weekend after.
She invited five girls from her class from school to go paint pottery and then come over to our house for pizza and cake. The girls she invited are all very nice, sweet girls that I would be perfectly happy if she stayed friends with them until she graduated high school. A few of them especially are always making sure Sarah is okay when she looks sad and putting their arms around her to comfort her when she is in a foul mood. Just nice girls, which in a world of mean girls is getting harder and harder to come by.
I am so glad there were only five of them because I don't think I could have handled anymore. I don't know how people let their daughters have big sleepover parties in their basements because I could barely handle of few of them in my kitchen and back yard for an hour or two. Luckily my friend, Theresa, one of the girl's moms, came with me to the pottery place and helped keep everybody on track and take pictures.
Although it was small I think Sarah had a great time and really enjoyed everybody's company. She is really looking forward to our trip to Dallas, but was happy to celebrate her special day here as well. The only downside to the whole day was that Theresa's daughter, Kelly, broke her wrist when she slipped of the trapeze bar on our playset. It was at the end of the party and everybody else had gone home. Sarah felt so bad that today she made Kelly a card and we stopped after Andy's baseball game and Sarah and Amanda each picked out a stuffed animal for her and we took it over to her house. She seemed to be doing pretty well, I hope it stays that way.
It's hard for me to believe that Sarah is eight. She definitely has the attitude, but still seems like my little girl. In some ways she is still little, I took her in for her well visit this week and she was only in the 7th percentile for height and 25th percentile for weight. That means that 93% of the kids her age are taller than her and 75% weigh more than her. At this age it's not too noticeable, but if the trend continues in the next few years we will see a difference. For now I'm just trying to deal with the little girls who isn't acting so little anymore.
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