7QTs - Snow Daze, School Daze

Oh crazy days...

--- 1 ---

The girls has a pretty stellar Christmas break thanks to Christmas, extended sleepovers at both Grammy's and Jibbe's (courtesy of M's nasty, nasty cold virus that appeared 6 days before Christmas and stuck around until the 24th), and going to the Nutcracker:

That picture is most definitely from Dec 27 thanks to some wacky NC warm spell. Grammy, Lee and the two big girls went to the Nutcracker this year. I got to go last year but A has been a cling-on baby so no ballet for me. The Nutcracker is becoming a staple around here which is funny because Lee and I used to go when we were dating and first married but we stopped when E was born. Anyhow, R was super reluctant about it at first and E will likely start discussing the ins and outs of this year's trip in several weeks. 

---2---

Another staple around here is becoming the New Year's Day Brunswick stew making. Brunswick stew - or just Stew - is a Southern staple that I had no idea about (much like the corn pudding at Thanksgiving) until Lee and I got hitched. 

Jibbe has a fantastic recipe for it and making it has been a joint venture (mostly her - I just stir and add input) for the past several years. This year Lee was forced to play his hand in the stew making because A is being a cling-on child and wants to be asleep or held or nursing (more on that later). Anyhow, this year was a success and if you know where to get 2 large wooden spoon/paddles let me know, I'm in the market. 

---3---

In other weekly news, it snowed/flurried for more than a few minutes this week... 

Grandpa Joe's theory that if it thunders during winter, it will snow within 10 days was proven correct-a-mundo as he might say.  

A wasn't terribly happy about it 

E was thrilled!

I got several - I TOLD you it was going to snow reports from R


They bundled up and ran in the flurries for about 20 minutes sans M because she would have lasted a minute or two in the cold

---4---

I think we have a book problem... 

St. Nicholas brought me 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs' and I still haven't read it yet because there are 55 million other books that the girls want to read

Reading with 3 kids is tough - let alone 3 kids plus a baby. Someone is always not where they want to be on the couch and cannot see the book and blah blah, blah blah. On this night E was at AHG (American Heritage Girls), and A was asleep so R and M and I snuggled up on the bed to read. If I did not have to physically put M in bed and they didn't fight - I think I could read to them until I fell asleep. 

---5---

So, how was everyone's first week back at school? Because this pretty much sums up ours: 

It has been pretty exhausting with a side of kicking and screaming for us. It didn't help that we had Theophany liturgy at 6:30 one night which included a stop at the school uniform store. Total side note, I got E 3 skirts for the year and one of them was not holding up at all so I called the store and they said to bring it in (totally inconvenient because its an hour away) and it turns out they 'determined' (in all of 34 seconds) that it was a manufacture defect in the fabric sooooo they gave us a new skirt (cool). 

Anyway, getting back to the groove has been interesting to say the least. I think I'm going to shrivel up like a raisin when Lee has to leave for work early. Seriously, I need to find and starting praying for help from the Patron Saint of Mad Dashes Out of the House. 

Anyhow, I'll just blast I WILL SURVIVE every morning as my theme song and we shall power through as usual. 

---6---

Speaking of powering through things, little A who is going to be 3 months next week (unreal I tell you) and little A who is going to get baptized and receive initiation sacraments on Sunday (yay!) and little A who I have been warring with over the past 2.5 weeks over this:

The bottle. A kinda drove me insane on Christmas because I could not put him down. It was either him screaming or me holding him. So I got it in my mind that I stopped feeling sorry for him on December 26 and it was time to get on the Bottle Train. 

No small task, I know. 

And I know everyone says you (the nursing mother) cannot give your baby a bottle (the babies can smell you and all this stuff) but I have the past two times with R and M plus Lee isn't exactly the best when it comes to screaming, helpless babies. Case in point, when he opts to make dinner, clean up, and bathe the kids over the 45 minutes it took to get A to drink ONE SINGLE OUNCE from a bottle - I'd take giving the bottle over all that work any day of the week. 

Well A and I battled over the bottle with a noodle-eating-poodle (see Fox in Socks) for a while. One ounce a day. He screamed and cried real tears and I did get sad for him at times but the kid must use a bottle and he finally turned a corner this week. Tuesday I think, he didn't put up a fight at all. Yesterday he tried to but he remembered our truce and took the bottle eventually. 

Nursing him is way easier though. He takes FOREVER with the bottle and I cannot do anything else when I give him the bottle (he likes to be flat on his back on the bed). 

---7---

This might accurately describe how I'm feeling this week. 

Getting back to work and school is kicking my tail. Case in point, today (Friday) I'm at work getting this project that's a few weeks in the making and A has a blow out of a diaper. My heart kind of sinks because I realize the outfit he is wearing was actually the outfit I should have put as the spare in his bag which means... he doesn't have a change of clothes. I wrap him up in a blanket, pass him off to the baby whisperer, and trudge out to the van (all the way across the freakin parking lot because PLEASE let's not talk about the parking situation at the office : ) in the hopes of finding an outfit from another day or even a spare set of M's clothes. No luck. 

I return with my head held low because we have another 95 minutes at the office and A has one gross outfit that all I can do is wipe off the mess and roll with it. 

Enter Nani (she's a pro at just about everything) has a change of baby clothes in her car. Imagine that.  A may have given me a weird look as I slipped the very light red (pink, ehem) polka dot onesie on but beggars can't be choosers now. 

So that pretty much sums this week up. I have 101 posts I want to do but this is all I have for now. 

Week in My Life - Jueves

Are you getting bored of all this yet???

Not a bad view to wake up to : ) 

Pretty much the same way I left the night before but this time it included some coffee - 2 cups in fact 

Which was good because someone was up before 6 : ( 

Being 5 can be extremely difficult. Nothing like a splash of mom's coffee to turn that frown upside down.

First time I've packed lunch since A was born. - well maybe the second - but Lee has been responsible for lunch and snacks for going on 6 weeks. We have agreed to disagree over showering ways - well I'm calling agree to disagree on his lunch packing skillz... Yes it gets done but E asked - why does Papa NEVER give me a napkin? and the cup refill situation drives me nuts. 

All of le bags plus R's show-and-tell - which is in the wrong stack but she put it there, not me

We live (and are late) by the microwave timer. I kind of despise it that our morning revolves around a beep-beep-beep,  beep-beep-beep- BUT se la vi. The school bus - or bee bus, as M calls it - is another timely reminder. If the bus comes and we are still praying that is a problem. But if the bus comes when we are downstairs (as see above) or better yet, in the garage getting in the van we are bound to have an on-time departure. 

I could write a whole post about Ninis - the knitted blankets the girls (and maybe boy) drag around all day long and MUST have at night. They are so so so very special to our kids and the lady who made our first three did not make A's - in fact she wasn't able to see M with hers. Seeing the girls loving their Ninis will cause little twinges in my heart sometimes. 

Rain complicates things. Traffic. Coat selection. Drop-off especially drop-off with a new baby. Fortunately there are some super great moms (and kids too) who go to our preschool and I was able to stay outside the school and keep my hawkeyes on the van (with A inside) while R and M got dropped off. 

I then proceeded to talk to a small handful of moms in the wind and rain (but under the shelter) after drop off. It is so good/comforting/reassuring/awesome to have a group of mom-friends who are going through the same things I am. Also, it is nice to be able to have the time to talk to them and not rush around like a crazy-mama like I do during pool season. Sometimes Lee will drive by E's school (told ya it was a small town) and he'll see the group of parents standing around talking after prayer line and he'll ask me "if I was holding court today" in the parking lot. Funny guy he is. 

Anyhow... after 'holding court' in the preschool parking lot, A and I shot home for a few minutes because there was no reason for me to go to work plus the kitchen was slightly on the disastrous side of the scale. It dawned on me I could have lunch with E so A and I grabbed some lunch food and headed that way but not without swinging by work to check in on some things and give Jibbe the Nini bags because Thursday is the afternoon everyone waits. Jibbe does the preschool pick up and takes the girls to lunch and then they hang out for the afternoon. E is definitely on the feeling-left-out end of the spectrum but I take her over to hang out for a few hours after school and she watches Play-Doh movies on the coveted iPad - she told me some time ago that she wanted an iPad for Christmas. 

DREAM ON MY CHILD, DREAM ON!

We were wearing the same shirt but no evidence to prove it

I think she was surprised to see me. It is so funny to watch the kids reactions to what's in their lunch boxes. "She packed me this!" or "She packed me this????" There was some chatter about A and if 'he was annoying' or not and who was going to change his diaper etc etc. General 5-yr-old banter. I really don't know the kids in E's class very well since this is her first year at the school. While I'm sure that will change over the years, it is a definite contrast to the several friends I heard about for three years at preschool - one of whom she will still talk about from time to time, about how she is going to marry him. Sigh. 

Well lunch was over and I had 2.5 hours to kill before pick-up and I definitely didn't want to sit around the pool store and twiddle my fingers SO A and I then paid a visit to Nani! Yes the Nani from yesterday who brought me some huevos rancheros. #friendenvy 

I wish I had gotten a good pic of them : ( 

I tell people that Nani is my first Rocky Mount friend. Which kind of says a lot because I didn't meet her until over a year after I had moved here. We started off as co-workers and officemates and 6 years and 4 (of my) babies later we are buenas ham-mi-gas, finally vecinas (we used to live 23 minutes apart and now it is down to about 1.5 minutes), she's my walking buddy - who else will walk over six miles to try and kick start labor not once but twice!, she's an awesome cook and all I have to bring to the table is pimento cheese, we have the best debates about the Bible and I hopefully have proved wrong the myth of Catholics being like they are in the soap operas : ) , she's helped change one of my babies diapers at work when I literally had no more diapers or wipes - let's just say desperate times call for newspaper, a burp cloth and paper clamps. I could go on...  

But I won't. A and I then went to the eye doctor to get my glasses realigned because they were super loose and very bent to the point I was embarrassed to wear them. And then I realized R left her show-and-tell in the van. New policy change - Show-and-Tell IN THE BOOKBAGS

Then back to school to get E but not without feeding A and taking three work phone calls in parking lot. E has been begging to go to the li-br-air-ee and it is on the way out of town and it was just her (and A) so I asked if she wanted to go and got a resounding YES! Of course she goes for the stinking Berenstain Bear books. Five more. I thought she was actually going to pick something different but then she didn't because she is a creature of habit just like me. I grab Madeline because I really really like that book. 

I drop E off (because she doesn't want me interrupting her time with Jibbe) and I go to Office Depot get more sight cards laminated. NEVER going again if the laminating machine is down - they didn't come out very well and it took FOR-EVER. I didn't might the wait because I caught up with one of the guys who works for Papa. After I ran two more errands at the depressing mall scene and went back to Jibbe's. She had to go somewhere so the girls took early baths, we packed up the dinner she made us (yes I know, I am spoiled) and made the tearful journey (without Jibbe) home. 

What the heck is the point of this pic? 

Well... you see that fork, the small Minnie one? I almost thought E was going to go to bed without dinner over that utensil. I asked her to set the table for dinner and she pulls he plastic one for M and her normal metal fork and the Minnie one for R. Had she not been sparring with R in the evening I wouldn't have thought about it or had they not been going at it on the ride home - it would have been fine but she got that fork for R to get her mad - because they should both get the same metal fork (that Minnie one is now a 'baby' fork). So I tell E to give R the metal fork and herself the Minnie fork. 

SHE LOST IT. 

Jumping up and down. Screaming. Crying. Lost it. She went on about how she couldn't use it and it was too small and it was a baby fork and everything. She was sent and called out of her room three times before she finally gave in and used the darn thing to eat. 

Sure it would have been super easier on me to just give her the fork she wanted but she wants to instigate some mess with R - that will make my life more complicated? Watch out because I can and will call your bluff and play your games. 

After dinner I had pretty much had it. My tolerance level for everything wanes at the week goes on. I did let them pick out a book each to read - last night it was 3 each because I was in a better mood. Prayer. Bed. DONE DONE DONE. Except there's M's chatter and potty trips and ice packs and the works. Plus I have sight words to cut out and mac to make and muffins to bake - since I have no idea when Papa will be back from Maryland - he was there at a conference that NT Wright was speaking at. NT Wright is definitely one of Papa's most favorite authors/scholars. 

The mac was made. The new pumpkin muffins were baked. Grammy sent us pumpkin muffins (again my family is awesome, I know this) since Trader Joes was sold out until next September : (  - next time when the associate asks us if we want a case of 16 boxes - we are not going to pass them up! In between mac and muffins I start the St. Nicholas shopping since I've got about two weeks to get stuff. Actually I have most everything just Papa is super hard to shop for and I want to get something for E to remember her Saint Day this year.

A and I get ready for bed and I feed him and turn on the news and in pops Papa! We talk for all of five minutes because we are both exhausted but it is good to have him back!

Week En My Vida - Tues-dia

Continuing to play along because clearly I have loads of free time on my hands... 

Setting the scene...

This is what I woke up to (and I woke up late which means I didn't have any 'me' time. So from left to right... 

+ There's the 2 books E wants to take AR quizzes on - I don't force AR quizzes. There is manadatory reading time whether me or her or Papa - but if she wants to take an AR quiz that is up to her. Usually during the first part of the week she's super into them and by Thursday and Friday she's kinda burnt out on all things school. 

+ E's sight word flashcards that she's learned - yes they are color coded by set and she happens to love picking out colors for the next sets

+ A's entertainment devices

+ My food

+ Mail and other stuff

+ All the books that we read the night before that I have to add to E's reading list 

The breakfast shuffle. The lunch and snack making extravaganza. The empty Jesse Tree that we still didn't start : ( 

Morning distraction.. Ar-dee-la (squirrels) interrupt toothbrushing

A's getting tired of waiting to be held

Weekend laundry remnants that still aren't cleaned up - and I think that drives Lee absolutely crazy but he lives in the trenches of busy-ness so he knows... 

Also we are dropping off a flyer about the can drive at the office.

Making our way to the chapel for morning prayers...

M wasn't having anything to do with them... I guess I'll have to plan getting a brown bow for her 3 yr old class because all I could think of was this...

I had 2.5 seconds to make coffee since I got up an hour late I knew it was worth the time. 

R and M helped bring in some of the cans we brought for the food drive. It would have been way easier to leave them in the van but since this is part of the Advent Activities for the week - it was necessary. Grateful for the mom who stayed out at the van so I didn't have to drag - a screaming - A in. E was in circle time but M saw her in class and had to give her a squeeze. It was so stinking cute!

We made it to preschool but not without catching up with some other moms in the parking lot! I tend to run my mouth a lot at preschool.

A and I hard at work. Pool store is not hopping in November - yes this is a different office scene than yesterday because I have two jobs (outside the home) and a slew of jobs AT HOME : ) just to clarify.

A and I shuffle back to preschool and get these two. M cannot reach the water fountain which is super frustrating to her. I think it's funny to watch her try.

R was melting down big time so it was rest or get it together... She opted for the former - and then was more mad. Overtired? Yep.

M enjoyed lunch outside by herself. I sat and peeled oranges for her...

M - I happy maa-maa

Me - I'm happy you are happy

M - Heeeeeee... I love you maaa-mee

Me - I love you too M

Then M went down for rest and I worked some. R came out of her rest super hungry (shocking I know). E got home from school. I think her expression sums up how she feels. She's pretty stinking wiped out after being gone for eight hours. She usually comes in the door saying - 'all they did was seat work' and they NEVER paint. I try and ask her about other things - playing outside or her specials or lunch - but I don't get too much info. She wanted to look at all the books she's taken AR quizzes on so I make that happen because that is something she is excited about. 

Then we hit the streets because the weather still cannot decide whether it is going to get cold or not.

A gets tossed in the carrier and we go. We visit some neighbors who we haven't seen in what seems like ages - even though we see them at preschool drop-off many days. There are a bunch of boys and a bunch of girls out there and they are terrorizing each... One day that won't be the case I suppose

E and her friend make plans to pick sweet potatoes in the field the next day. 

E - Can you please text her mom to tell her what time I'll be out?

{sure no problem, just sounds funny to me} 

A sheet of math homework that gets done without much fuss. I really try not to fight over homework. I tell her if she wants to turn it in blank because she doesn't want to do it then fine. It is her homework not mine. Just like it is not my folder or my lunchbox or my book bag. If you forget to put your homework in your folder or your book bag in the car... Sorry. I'll remind but ultimately it is not my responsibility. A few weeks ago E forgot to put her name on her homework and I told her to check to be sure she had done everything and she assured me she had. Sure, I could have told her she forgot it write it BUT I didn't. And you know after having to write her name 10 times on the homework page at school, do you think she's forgotten since? Nope... Not yet. 

FINALLY starting the Jesse Tree - It's a long one - Genesis 1 - so we are still 2 days behind : ( 

A is STILL in the carrier because well.. that's how he is rolling these days. One drawback is I cannot see over it - it's like being pregnant except at chest level - so I nearly mow over M when I wear it. 

Papa and E head to American Heritage Girls - same concept as Girl Scouts. I need to do a post on that as well as get a pic of them in their matching shirts : ) 

R and M doting on A..

The state of the kitchen that must be changed before story time

R and M play family - I find out that the purple baby just came out of R's tummy - amongst other things. They play pretty well together. I have found E tends to instigate a lot of the arguments. R and M usually don't require too much intervention

The table isn't in too bad of shape for 6:30

Evidence of showering. Lee has pretty much taken over showers - thankfully. He and I have very different schools of thought when it comes to the way of showering kids most efficiently. He doesn't like the way I do it, so more power to him!

Once stories are read and bedtime has begun, the final juvenile member of the family is bathed. 

And he and Papa and I catch up after AHG. A gets fussy so I put him to bed and plan on going back to chat it up with Lee some more but that doesn't happen.