Roll On

I can't believe it's Friday already. It seems like not that long ago I was looking forward to pizza and brownies...

As of today, E1 and E2 have two weeks of school under their belts. Crazy. They're both having a good time, and both teachers seem great in their own individual ways. The fourth grade teacher in particular seems awesome. They've already done a few hands-on science projects, she gives them time to complete homework during class and doesn't give loads of homework, and she's got bean bag chairs in the classroom. Overall, she seems to be encouraging the kids to take a larger responsibility in their school work...or at least that seems to be the result with E1. Yesterday, after reading through some study pages for a social studies test she'd be taking today I suggested she have Rob quiz her.

"No, he'll just make it hard."

Heh.

"I've been studying all week. It will be fine."

And she has been; not rigorous studying, but she's read the information every night before she put her things away.

At the parent information night, 4th Gr Teacher was demonstrating the super cool SmartBoards which are an on-going goal of many a booster-club fundraiser. She pulled up NASA.gov and was showing us how she'd discovered this website that let you look and listen in on the current space flight and their communications with 'Houston'. Then she admitted that she and another teacher, upon first discovering the site, were pretending they were communicating with the astronauts. Admitted that to a room full of parents.

'Not afraid to look silly' should be a teaching requirement is all I'm saying.

In other news, E1 is about half way through the first Harry Potter Book. Back when I was reading the series, my friend Glenda asked if I thought I'd let E1 read some of the later books in the series. I'm not sure. I think, at least through the 4th book, she can handle it. After that we'll have to re-assess; it may be that the size of the book might put her off until she's a little older. For now, she's enjoying sharing some of the funny scenes with E2; stories about Peeves and the like.

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Newsflash: I just killed our shower curtain. I put it in the washer with some towels, and when it came out the hole that began as a small 'Y' -shaped cut was now large enough to fit my head through. It was a fun-looking dealie, with cartoon sailboats and suns - now it's a crumpled, wet heap. BUT! it means I got to put up the swanky new one with embroidered palm trees that I got on clearance at Bed Bath & Beyond ages ago. It's new shower curtain Friday - everyone celebrate!

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On to E2 - she's having trouble getting up and ready in the mornings. In part because she and E1 stay up giggling long past lights-out, and in part because she spends too much time talking once she does get out of bed. This morning she poured herself a bowl of "combo cereal" (The famous All-Bran with Yogurt Bits and Cookie Crisp) fit for a lumberjack and I had to banish her from using any cereal bowls besides the three smallest kiddie bowls we have.

Dress, eat, comb hair, and brush teeth seems pretty simple, doesn't it? E1 was the same way at this age, but knowing that doesn't make this any less frustrating. "E2, stick to your ticket" is the morning mantra I've borrowed from the first Harry Potter movie...that and my own personal, "E2. What is your job right now?"

E2 has started her soccer season with Rob as her coach. It's first and second graders, co-ed, with enough kids for two teams. After some parental scuffling regarding the division of teams (seriously. because soccer teams at this age can make or break a career, right?), they should be getting down to the business of pass, shoot, score. The first game is in two weeks.

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Shocking: Earlier this week when I was cleaning the upstairs shower, I had a 'hmmm, I wonder when that step stool was last wiped down?' moment and decided to clean it as well. Back in the potty learning days it was wiped down/hosed off as frequently as accidents occurred. Sad to say, it takes a potty accident to keep the foot stool clean. As I sprayed it with cleaner and began wiping I became concerned that I was wiping off the non-skid texture on the surface of the stool...but noooooo, I was just wiping off a summer's worth of grime left by dirty munchkin feet and the surface was now so blindingly clean that I could no longer visibly detect the texture.

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E3 is still slightly favoring her left leg, but it's so subtle it's hard to tell if she's doing it intentionally...like when she doesn't want to help put toys away. We may have to haul her back in to have it looked at next week.

Last week at gymnastics was yet another try at moving her up to the 'big girl' level - where she goes in to class without me, but can still see me watching from the doorway - and she did GREAT! I took pictures! And video! She finally attempted a cartwheel, which she's refused to do in the past. She declared she LOVES cartwheels! There were hearts, rainbows, and butterflies!

I've lost track of how many times we've attempted this level of gym, and I feel partly to blame because I jinxed it the first time around. In anticipation of an hour that would be essentially kid-free, save for the occasional smile and wave, I brought a magazine to class - FOOL!

E3 balked at going in without me and has been reluctant ever since. By reluctant, I mean she sits on her designated geometric shape and rubs her eyes to indicate she's crying (because she needs time to work up to actual tears when she's fake crying) and refuses to participate, talk, or look at anyone. There is no treat or reward that will sway her, no threat that causes her to toe the line. She has no currency, Dr Phil.

This week was back to the same old-same old refusal to participate. She's "afraid", she can't do it, she's willing to go home and take a nap all day even if it means no Taco Bell. Nothing had changed since last week- same teacher (that she's had for at least a year now), same classroom, same, same, same. Her teacher, not enjoying E3's behavior but in agreement that E3 was trying to push my buttons and getting angry that I wouldn't back down, also agreed that I should stick to my guns or we'd be in the 'parent-tot' level for infinity when we all know that my presence in the room is NOT necessary. I finally left the doorway, and E3's line of sight, and watched in the reflection of a window. A short time (and much cajoling on the part of her teacher) later, they came out to get a drink of water and I asked E3 if she wanted me to come back and watch. She said no.

I went down to the front desk and asked if they have Valium for parents with unruly kids. They didn't. They also chuckled at my predicament. Eventually, I pulled my book (jinxed again?) out of my purse and sat on the steps and read. From what I could hear above me things seemed to be going better, and near the end of class they came to get me so I could see all the neat things they'd done so far. She did each and every one without a hitch. I don't get it, but Lord did I ever want to smack that child into next week.

The womb is closed, E3. Please move along accordingly.

Ambushed

My birthday plans of pizza and brownies were ambushed and I was forced to drop my kids for an overnight at Gradma & Grandpa's and go out to a nice dinner with my husband and receive these flowers.

Torture, I tell you.

Everybody Wang Chung Tonight

It's my birthday.

Hawaiian pizza and brownies for everyone!

Someone Fishy At The Bell

E3 and I dined-in at Taco Bell today, during our gymnastic day lunch ritual of lunch on the border. Usually we just eat in the van on the drive home, but today E3 asked to dine inside and so we did.

"Mom, he looks like Dory."

"Who? Like Corey?"

"Him. He looks like Dory."

"You mean Dad's cousin Corey?"

"No. Not like Corey. Like Dory."

"Who's Dory?"

"From Nemo."

"But Dory from Nemo is a fish. And she's blue."

"Yeah. I know."

Acting Drunk Before We Got The Wine

Friday night we dropped the girls off at Rob's Aunt's house before heading out to a winery for a relaxing evening with his family. The girls were spending the night, so we loaded the van with sleeping bags and overnight bags, and three girls ready to play and eat loads of contraband snackage.

When we arrived at Kathy's House of All Girl Stuff, they were outside. So, after disembarking the van, the girls shot off to play with the dog and cats and Rob stepped over to chat with Russ and his brother. I headed inside to see their kitchen re-model in progress. I handed over a recent photo of the girls, and a package of golden oreos that Grandma Carol had sent along as a snack. We chatted for quite a while.

Kathy and I returned outside and then Rob went in to see the kitchen while I chatted with Russ (almost a month of no rain, and so on and so forth...). Rob came back outside and we said our good-byes; the girls barely registered our departure. As we were leaving I sent my mobile phone number to them by text message, because Rob hadn't brought his phone, in case of emergency and all that.

Then we enjoyed a lovely evening at the winery. After two weeks of 100-degree weather, the weather was balmy enough to sit out by the lake and enjoy some wine and music (although the music was too loud - we're so old).

We left the winery with Christine in tow, having convinced her to stay out with us after the parents when home. We parked in the garage at home and were headed inside, Rob making a crack about the presence of bugs as E1 often exclaims discontentedly about their presence in the world, when I rounded the back of the van and said, "OH. MY. GOD."

There, in the still-lit interior of the van's cargo space, sat three sleeping bags and three overnight bags. We had dumped our children for an overnight stay with nothing but Oreos.

Like the professionals that they are, Kathy's crew had outfitted the girls in t-shirts and whatnot, washing the girls' clothing items that were especially dirty (read: E3's), without nary a phone call or a text message to the theme of, "Hellooo?! DUH!"

All without the benefit of liquor. We are masterful.

Off To A Good Start

E3 and I attended a retirement party for my Father-in-law today. Along with my Mother-in-law and Sister-in-law we trekked to his workplace and were the surprise at the already anticipated party.

Fried chicken, my friends. And cake.

Best of all - one of my Father-in-law's co-workers has a nephew that lives near Sister-in-law Christine down in Texas. He's intent on playing cupid between the two of them.

Bow-chicka-wow-wow.

We're hanging out at the winery tonight, while the kids frolic and spend the night at Rob's cousin's house - home of four formerly little girls and millions of Barbies. Good times to be had by all.

Interrupting This Commercial Interruption

I've had it in my head that I was going to work up a post about a couple of commercials that I dislike. Actually, there are probably a lot of ads that fall into such a category, but I don't usually pay commercials that much attention; commercials are for snack breaks, bathroom breaks and delivering stacks of laundry to the appropriate places.

But, there's that one car commercial with the "DUH" theme. It's not catchy enough that I know what car company the commercial is for, but I've been seeing it enough to know that it annoys me.

And, have you seen the ads for WackedAndLooney-Mart that claim gas prices are so high they'd be cRAzy not to shop at W.A.L.-Mart? Hmmm, my experience has been that shopping there can cause a person to become CraZy.

The Sonic improv commercials on the other hand, are pure genius.

This morning however, I took notice of an ad that I've probably been exposed to many times before. The ad is for All-Bran with yogurt bits and it caught my eye because E1 and E2 have been requesting it for some time. I know - requesting All-Bran. It's proven to be tricky to find in our area; it's not at our little grocery store and it's not at The Big Grocery store by my Target. I did find it at that Target the last time I was there and the girls were delighted. It was consumed in a matter of days.

Now, the ad...shows a construction worker in various locations around a construction site, holding the cereal box and extolling the virtues of All-Bran with yogurt bits. But there's a plethora of additional visuals to ensure you know just what the benefit of All-Bran is. It's hardcore commercial viewing, my friends.

Best Week Ever.tv has this to say:

This cereal ad demonstrates for viewers the regularity-enhancing properties of All Bran with all the subtlety of a ton bricks being dropped onto your head. As Jimmy the construction worker goes on about how he’s been having trouble taking a crap, a series of very obvious “anal-ogies” take place at the construction site in the background, leaving you with the desire to do nothing more than scarf down a big bowl of bran flakes, then drop off a big high-grade industrial steel #2 beam in the nearest toilet.

A Future At Band Camp?

As E1 enters fourth grade this year, she has a few new opportunities. She will be eligible to join the Art Club - a certainty. She can play volleyball - a maybe, and basketball - a no. And she can join the band.

She's not sure she wants to play an instrument, but I think if she gives it a try she'll like it. Her class performed with flute-a-phones at the spring concert this year and in no time at all she had the music memorized. The Star Wars Theme on flute-a-phone rocks.

In a flash of brilliance, I emailed my Father-in-law's immediate family to ask if anyone had any instruments that weren't being used; that if E1 chose to play an instrument that they had on hand, maybe we could make a love connection. She's said that she might want to try the clarinet or the flute.

Amid the expected wise-acre replies offering things like an accordion and a piano, we've been offered a trumpet, a clarinet, a flute and an alto sax.

I'm on a thriftiness high - and the money we save will totally allow us to afford band camp in the future.

I've Gone Punk

Not intentionally. I wore a hot pink sun visor in the pool today and it got wet. Now I have a ring of pink 'highlights'. I'm thinking of piercing something to go with my new look, heh.

E3 sprained her left knee during a trampoline excursion Friday night. We had it x-ray'd Saturday and there were no breaks, but she refused to put any weight on it until Monday. She's getting around better, but still hobbling.

I finished Harry Potter #6 today and began reading #7. Loving. Every. Page. Also, I need my own personal pensive - it would be so helpful!

Deemed A Good Dinner Even Though The Food Intermingles

Created by me. Named by E1. Deemed edible by the whole family (an impossibility sometimes).


Alfredo Buffet

Chicken breasts, about four
A box of spiral noodles
A bag of frozen California blend vegetables
A jar of Alfredo sauce

Boil water for noodles in a large pot (I use my big two-handled stock pot thing); use a bit more water than recommended on noodle box.

Cook chicken in skillet until done and remove from skillet.

When water boils, add noodles to cook.

Cut cooked chicken into bite sized pieces and return to skillet. Dump jar of Alfredo sauce over chicken and turn heat on low, scraping up cooked chicken bits from pan.

When noodles are almost done, add bag of vegetables and continue cooking until vegetables are done to your liking.

Drain noodles and vegetables and add to Alfredo’d chicken.

And Then We Dipped Her In Lard

Last night at the pool, as we were observing E1 and E2 jump off the diving board:

Rob: Look at that, E1 bobs right back up and has time to wipe the hair out of her face. E2 takes forever to come back up and barely has time to gasp for air before she begins swimming. Even while she's swimming her body is under water, not on top. Why is that?

Nancy: Maybe because she has almost no body fat to help her float?

We promptly took her to McD's to fatten her up.