Thursday, September 11, 2014
The Happiest Place on Earth
Amanda has always been pretty obsessed with her birthday, so about a week after her fourth birthday she started planning her fifth. I was throwing out ideas of what she could do when Sarah said, "You know, for my 5th birthday Mommy took me to Disney World. You should do that instead of a party." That's all it took, and the idea was born. So basically we planned her 5th birthday party (a party of two) for about a year.
Since she finally turned five in August I scheduled her trip to Disney World the first week of September so it was still close to her birthday but after almost everybody was back to school. Best idea ever. The parks were empty, or at least empty for Disney standards. Originally we were going to fly in on Thursday night and go to the Magic Kingdom on Friday and Saturday and fly home Sunday. Then my wonderful friend, April from Winter Springs, called to see if we wanted to go to Frozen Disney on Ice that Sunday. Um, yeah, you don't have to ask me twice. So I changed our reservations to come home later on Sunday.
I had everything planned and ready to go when we came upon another schedule change. We had decided to go visit Charlie's mom in Miami for Labor Day weekend, and would be flying home on Labor Day. But then Amanda and I were going to fly right back to Florida (and it is a long flight), a few days later for her birthday trip. So Charlie and I decided it would be better if Amanda and I just stayed in Florida. So all of a sudden a four day trip turned into a 10 day trip. It sounds wonderful, and it was, but it was exhausting.
We had a very nice, calm, laid back visit with Charlie's mom over the weekend and then Amanda and I headed to the Orlando area on Monday to hang out with April and her family while Charlie flew home with Andy and Sarah. We just saw them a few weeks ago in Destin but I really can't see them enough so we stayed and had a really nice visit for a couple of days. I adjusted our Disney hotel and park passes by a day (or two) and Wednesday morning we headed in. We went to Downtown Disney to do a little shopping, checked into the hotel, returned our car and then were off to the Magic Kingdom. We got there around 5p. That was actually my plan on the first day. Just go hang out for a few hours, see the fireworks and then head back to the hotel. I would have skipped that day completely but there was a big Night of Joy (Christian Rock Concert) planned for Thursday and Friday nights, the other two days we were going to be at the Magic Kingdom, and they were kicking everybody out at 7p except those that had bought Night of Joy event tickets. Which meant no fireworks. So, if we wanted to see Disney fireworks it was Wednesday or not at all. I don't know if you've ever seen Disney's fireworks, but they are amazing so of course we had to see them.
Thursday we went to MGM, which they now call Hollywood Studios. I thought it was pretty fun but Amanda was a little miffed that they didn't have any rides. There were a few, but she either was too scared to ride them or not tall enough. Shows are nice and all, but not when you want to ride roller coasters.
Friday we got up and had breakfast with the princesses at Cinderella's castle and then she got to get all made up at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. They did her hair and nails and even put make up on her. She was in heaven. Saturday we had breakfast with Mickey Mouse and his friends and then went back to the Magic Kingdom. She still had her princess hair because they put about half a bottle of gel on her hair and it felt like cement. I washed it out when we got home on Sunday and I'm not sure that there still isn't some in there. Wow!
It was really a fabulous trip. It was great for her because she got to do whatever she wanted to do and eat (almost) whatever she wanted to eat and the focus was all on her. It was great for me because I only had one person to hang out with and because she was getting pretty much everything she wanted she was in a very agreeable mood. We had very little arguments or crying or issues. Unfortunately we did have rain, but she was even a good sport about that. The one thing that surprised Charlie and me was how much Amanda and Sarah missed each other. They fight, but they are still best friends, and we really want to nurture that so they stay that way for years and years to come. We Face Timed every night, which maybe made Sarah a little sad, but it was mostly so the girls could talk. Unfortunately they are both at the age where they really don't know how to talk on the phone (or over the iPad/iPhone screen), but it still made them very happy to see each other. While we were watching the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom Amanda told me she wished that we could Face Time Sarah so she could see the fireworks so I called her and she watched them from home. That was pretty cool!
I will say by the time we got to the airport on Sunday I was definitely ready to go. I was tired and ready to be home after 10 days away. But we made memories that she will always cherish and had an amazing time.
Since she finally turned five in August I scheduled her trip to Disney World the first week of September so it was still close to her birthday but after almost everybody was back to school. Best idea ever. The parks were empty, or at least empty for Disney standards. Originally we were going to fly in on Thursday night and go to the Magic Kingdom on Friday and Saturday and fly home Sunday. Then my wonderful friend, April from Winter Springs, called to see if we wanted to go to Frozen Disney on Ice that Sunday. Um, yeah, you don't have to ask me twice. So I changed our reservations to come home later on Sunday.
I had everything planned and ready to go when we came upon another schedule change. We had decided to go visit Charlie's mom in Miami for Labor Day weekend, and would be flying home on Labor Day. But then Amanda and I were going to fly right back to Florida (and it is a long flight), a few days later for her birthday trip. So Charlie and I decided it would be better if Amanda and I just stayed in Florida. So all of a sudden a four day trip turned into a 10 day trip. It sounds wonderful, and it was, but it was exhausting.
We had a very nice, calm, laid back visit with Charlie's mom over the weekend and then Amanda and I headed to the Orlando area on Monday to hang out with April and her family while Charlie flew home with Andy and Sarah. We just saw them a few weeks ago in Destin but I really can't see them enough so we stayed and had a really nice visit for a couple of days. I adjusted our Disney hotel and park passes by a day (or two) and Wednesday morning we headed in. We went to Downtown Disney to do a little shopping, checked into the hotel, returned our car and then were off to the Magic Kingdom. We got there around 5p. That was actually my plan on the first day. Just go hang out for a few hours, see the fireworks and then head back to the hotel. I would have skipped that day completely but there was a big Night of Joy (Christian Rock Concert) planned for Thursday and Friday nights, the other two days we were going to be at the Magic Kingdom, and they were kicking everybody out at 7p except those that had bought Night of Joy event tickets. Which meant no fireworks. So, if we wanted to see Disney fireworks it was Wednesday or not at all. I don't know if you've ever seen Disney's fireworks, but they are amazing so of course we had to see them.
Thursday we went to MGM, which they now call Hollywood Studios. I thought it was pretty fun but Amanda was a little miffed that they didn't have any rides. There were a few, but she either was too scared to ride them or not tall enough. Shows are nice and all, but not when you want to ride roller coasters.
Friday we got up and had breakfast with the princesses at Cinderella's castle and then she got to get all made up at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. They did her hair and nails and even put make up on her. She was in heaven. Saturday we had breakfast with Mickey Mouse and his friends and then went back to the Magic Kingdom. She still had her princess hair because they put about half a bottle of gel on her hair and it felt like cement. I washed it out when we got home on Sunday and I'm not sure that there still isn't some in there. Wow!
It was really a fabulous trip. It was great for her because she got to do whatever she wanted to do and eat (almost) whatever she wanted to eat and the focus was all on her. It was great for me because I only had one person to hang out with and because she was getting pretty much everything she wanted she was in a very agreeable mood. We had very little arguments or crying or issues. Unfortunately we did have rain, but she was even a good sport about that. The one thing that surprised Charlie and me was how much Amanda and Sarah missed each other. They fight, but they are still best friends, and we really want to nurture that so they stay that way for years and years to come. We Face Timed every night, which maybe made Sarah a little sad, but it was mostly so the girls could talk. Unfortunately they are both at the age where they really don't know how to talk on the phone (or over the iPad/iPhone screen), but it still made them very happy to see each other. While we were watching the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom Amanda told me she wished that we could Face Time Sarah so she could see the fireworks so I called her and she watched them from home. That was pretty cool!
I will say by the time we got to the airport on Sunday I was definitely ready to go. I was tired and ready to be home after 10 days away. But we made memories that she will always cherish and had an amazing time.
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Three Questions
Somewhere along the way in my back to school journey, I read somewhere from some teacher that he likes to ask his kids three questions each night at dinner. One, what is one thing that you learned today? Two, who is one person that you helped today? Three, what was your favorite things about your day?
I thought how hard can it be? I can ask questions. I think I've mentioned before that we try really hard to have family dinner at our house. I have friends who eat at 5p or 6p whether their husbands are home or not and then, if not, he will just eat when he gets home. Or friends who feed the kids first and then eat with their husband after the kids go to bed. It sort of makes sense when your husband gets home late and you have little kids, but we've never done it that way. We've always put a big emphasis on the family dinner and made an effort to make it happen. Which is why we used to eat at 7:30p instead if 6p, but can adjust that a little better now that Charlie works from home (when he isn't traveling anyway).
I'm getting off topic. So, we've always asked the kids how their day was and to tell us what happened, but I thought I would try these new questions for a bit. Let me tell you, asking kids about their day is like pulling teeth. What did you like best about today? What? Your lunch. Nope, doesn't count. Recess? Try again. They really don't get that we want to hear about their day.
Today I asked Sarah what she learned, and she said they learned about rocks. Period. Okay, better answer than I've gotten from her in the past week or so. Then when I was putting her to bed she said, "Mommy, did you know that clay is the smallest form that rocks come in?" Um, no, I didn't know that. Where did you hear that? I learned it at school today. So why didn't you tell me that when I asked at dinner? UGH. I told her nicely that was something she should have told me at dinner and that's why I ask those questions. OOOOHHH.
So, it's a work in progress. Yesterday Amanda said she helped by picking up the crayons and markers. Today when I asked who she helped she said nobody because it wasn't her turn to pick up the crayons and markers today. They are slowly getting it. Hopefully by the end of the year it will be conversation material. Otherwise, maybe book material, lol.
I thought how hard can it be? I can ask questions. I think I've mentioned before that we try really hard to have family dinner at our house. I have friends who eat at 5p or 6p whether their husbands are home or not and then, if not, he will just eat when he gets home. Or friends who feed the kids first and then eat with their husband after the kids go to bed. It sort of makes sense when your husband gets home late and you have little kids, but we've never done it that way. We've always put a big emphasis on the family dinner and made an effort to make it happen. Which is why we used to eat at 7:30p instead if 6p, but can adjust that a little better now that Charlie works from home (when he isn't traveling anyway).
I'm getting off topic. So, we've always asked the kids how their day was and to tell us what happened, but I thought I would try these new questions for a bit. Let me tell you, asking kids about their day is like pulling teeth. What did you like best about today? What? Your lunch. Nope, doesn't count. Recess? Try again. They really don't get that we want to hear about their day.
Today I asked Sarah what she learned, and she said they learned about rocks. Period. Okay, better answer than I've gotten from her in the past week or so. Then when I was putting her to bed she said, "Mommy, did you know that clay is the smallest form that rocks come in?" Um, no, I didn't know that. Where did you hear that? I learned it at school today. So why didn't you tell me that when I asked at dinner? UGH. I told her nicely that was something she should have told me at dinner and that's why I ask those questions. OOOOHHH.
So, it's a work in progress. Yesterday Amanda said she helped by picking up the crayons and markers. Today when I asked who she helped she said nobody because it wasn't her turn to pick up the crayons and markers today. They are slowly getting it. Hopefully by the end of the year it will be conversation material. Otherwise, maybe book material, lol.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Sometimes He Surprises Me
Now that we've been in school for a week the excitement and newness has worn off. Last week the kids were pretty gung ho and willing to wake up and get dressed, eat and get to school with plenty of time to spare. We had so much time that I was going to write a post (in fact I thought I did) about how fabulous the mornings were and that I got so much done now waking up at 6 a.m. instead of 7 a.m. and how the girls had so much time to dress and eat and even play in the morning. Nothing but time.
That wonderful honeymoon period has already worn off. On Monday morning Andy walked grumpily into the kitchen and informed me he was tired of waking up at 6 a.m. No duh, dude, who do you think is getting up with you? Only about 150 more days to go this year and then it's even more permanent when he is actually a full time student at the middle school and he will have to get up even earlier when he goes to high school. Ugh. All he does is read on his iPad in the morning while I'm hanging out with him, can't he just do it all by himself?
Another thing I forgot about was how tired Sarah gets when she is at school all day and how cranky she is when she gets home from school. Watch out. She's fine as long as I don't make her do anything on her to do list, like homework or taking her vitamins or feeding her fish, but when I do ask that's when all the screaming starts. From both of us. I really didn't need to yell at the kids very much this summer but within the last few days it's all coming back to me. Part of it is the kids and part of it is the fact that now I am getting up earlier but I am not going to bed any earlier. I am working on it but old habits die hard.
So we were all a little unhappy on Monday evening and Charlie was on a trip for work and I really didn't want to put the girls to bed and Andy knew it. All three of the kids were actually playing nicely together for once and Andy came up to me after I had told the girls a few times it was time for bed with no action and said, "I'll take care of this one." He got the girls upstairs, got them in their pajamas with teeth brushed and was reading to them when I finally walked into the room to make sure I didn't need to do anything before kissing everyone goodnight. The girls were actually mad at me for coming in too early and spoiling the surprise because they wanted to be in bed and all tucked in before I came in the room. That almost started another battle but instead I just left them alone to complete their plan.
Andy is a very mature kid, but sometimes he acts very much like an eleven year old boy. Silly and goofy and self centered and loud and just plain weird. I'll get frustrated with him, and then see some of his classmates and how immature they are and realize how lucky I am, even on his worst days. He's starting to hit puberty which is a whole other animal, but in the end he is a great kid. And every once in a while he pulls something like this to show me just how much he really loves me.
That wonderful honeymoon period has already worn off. On Monday morning Andy walked grumpily into the kitchen and informed me he was tired of waking up at 6 a.m. No duh, dude, who do you think is getting up with you? Only about 150 more days to go this year and then it's even more permanent when he is actually a full time student at the middle school and he will have to get up even earlier when he goes to high school. Ugh. All he does is read on his iPad in the morning while I'm hanging out with him, can't he just do it all by himself?
Another thing I forgot about was how tired Sarah gets when she is at school all day and how cranky she is when she gets home from school. Watch out. She's fine as long as I don't make her do anything on her to do list, like homework or taking her vitamins or feeding her fish, but when I do ask that's when all the screaming starts. From both of us. I really didn't need to yell at the kids very much this summer but within the last few days it's all coming back to me. Part of it is the kids and part of it is the fact that now I am getting up earlier but I am not going to bed any earlier. I am working on it but old habits die hard.
So we were all a little unhappy on Monday evening and Charlie was on a trip for work and I really didn't want to put the girls to bed and Andy knew it. All three of the kids were actually playing nicely together for once and Andy came up to me after I had told the girls a few times it was time for bed with no action and said, "I'll take care of this one." He got the girls upstairs, got them in their pajamas with teeth brushed and was reading to them when I finally walked into the room to make sure I didn't need to do anything before kissing everyone goodnight. The girls were actually mad at me for coming in too early and spoiling the surprise because they wanted to be in bed and all tucked in before I came in the room. That almost started another battle but instead I just left them alone to complete their plan.
Andy is a very mature kid, but sometimes he acts very much like an eleven year old boy. Silly and goofy and self centered and loud and just plain weird. I'll get frustrated with him, and then see some of his classmates and how immature they are and realize how lucky I am, even on his worst days. He's starting to hit puberty which is a whole other animal, but in the end he is a great kid. And every once in a while he pulls something like this to show me just how much he really loves me.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Kid Quote of the Day
"Unicorn."
-Amanda, at her well visit today when the doctor asked what she wanted to be when she grew up. The doctor acknowledged that it was a great answer as we need more unicorns in the world.
-Amanda, at her well visit today when the doctor asked what she wanted to be when she grew up. The doctor acknowledged that it was a great answer as we need more unicorns in the world.
And So It Begins
When we first found out that Andy was going to split his morning between the middle school and elementary school I thought it was going to be difficult. He has to wake up at 6 a.m. now to get showered and eat breakfast and get out the door to catch the bus on time. So I need to wake up at 6 a.m. to make sure that he gets up. He's a pretty early riser so the chances of him sleeping in are pretty slim, but still I need to be the responsible parent and make sure he's moving in the morning. Another reminder that parenthood is overrated.
What I didn't realize when I was pondering how I was going to get up any earlier than I already did, was what a blessing that extra hour is. He leaves around 6:45a. The girls wake up, also on their own, around 7a. Which means I have a few moments to gather my wits, get lunches started and be ready for the girls. Since I am functional at 7a instead of trying to wake up and then getting out of bed by 7:30a, I can spend extra time picking out clothes and shoes with Amanda and even doing the girls' hair. This morning I french braided both sides of Amanda's hair because I had nothing but time.
With Andy out of the house the instigator is gone and the girls can chat and play and there is no one to pick on them because he is bored. We really do have all the time in the world and it makes the morning run so much smoother.
What I forgot about was how tired and cranky the kids are after school, mainly Sarah, and how homework is back in our lives. Sarah had a tiny assignment today that took her over an hour to do. All she had to do was pick five things from around the house that described her (the assignment was called "In a Nutshell") and would be used for creative writing assignments for the next few weeks. It was like she had no clue what she was all about and what things were important to her. By the end of that assignment we had a coming to Jesus that I would not be helping her with her homework this year if this is how it was going to go. I am not going to sit by her side and try to get her to concentrate and cajole her into doing her homework. This after just the first day people. What am I going to say to her a month from now?
On the plus side, both kids love their teachers and are excited to be back at school. That's what I really care about, that they are enjoying themselves and in the correct mindset to learn, which they appear to be. Here's hoping it stays that way!
What I didn't realize when I was pondering how I was going to get up any earlier than I already did, was what a blessing that extra hour is. He leaves around 6:45a. The girls wake up, also on their own, around 7a. Which means I have a few moments to gather my wits, get lunches started and be ready for the girls. Since I am functional at 7a instead of trying to wake up and then getting out of bed by 7:30a, I can spend extra time picking out clothes and shoes with Amanda and even doing the girls' hair. This morning I french braided both sides of Amanda's hair because I had nothing but time.
With Andy out of the house the instigator is gone and the girls can chat and play and there is no one to pick on them because he is bored. We really do have all the time in the world and it makes the morning run so much smoother.
What I forgot about was how tired and cranky the kids are after school, mainly Sarah, and how homework is back in our lives. Sarah had a tiny assignment today that took her over an hour to do. All she had to do was pick five things from around the house that described her (the assignment was called "In a Nutshell") and would be used for creative writing assignments for the next few weeks. It was like she had no clue what she was all about and what things were important to her. By the end of that assignment we had a coming to Jesus that I would not be helping her with her homework this year if this is how it was going to go. I am not going to sit by her side and try to get her to concentrate and cajole her into doing her homework. This after just the first day people. What am I going to say to her a month from now?
On the plus side, both kids love their teachers and are excited to be back at school. That's what I really care about, that they are enjoying themselves and in the correct mindset to learn, which they appear to be. Here's hoping it stays that way!
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Kid Quote of the Day
"Selfish and selfless all at the same time."
-Andy, watching me fill out the volunteer sheet for Sarah's class and after much consideration circling bi-weekly instead of weekly for the frequency with which I would like to volunteer. Such a profound statement and so incredibly accurate from my 11 year old boy.
-Andy, watching me fill out the volunteer sheet for Sarah's class and after much consideration circling bi-weekly instead of weekly for the frequency with which I would like to volunteer. Such a profound statement and so incredibly accurate from my 11 year old boy.
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