So far today:
- I forgot to eat my banana on my way to the gym, resulting in trying to do a 75 min conditioning class on 200 calories of protein.
- I 'snuck' out of a very full 75 min conditioning class after 45 min.
- Elizabeth fell into a very large puddle of icy slush leaving the gym.
- While shopping for (dry) clearance pants for Elizabeth at Target (but before buying my groceries), I lost my new leather gloves.
- Kate (yes, Kate, my nowhere-near-potty-trained-4-year-old) pooped her pants.
- The school we plan to send Kate to next fall called asking where Kate’s teacher reference was - they need it this week to decide whether or not to admit her. I haven't even asked for it yet. (Oh well, she probably won't be able to go anyway, because she won't be potty trained).
- After cleaning up Kate (and while on the phone with the school), I learned Elizabeth found the pancake batter and poured it all over the kitchen.
Here’s hoping this day gets better, and fast.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Friday, October 9, 2009
Playdate Shmaydate
Kate and her "best friend" Molly are in the same preschool class with another neighborhood boy named Jack. Since Molly and Jack are both youngest children, when they are in school their moms have actual free time. So they arranged when school started that they would take turns - on Wednesdays one would drive to preschool and then take them home for lunch and a playdate. The other would take Fridays. I was offered to take part. I am reluctant, to put it lightly.
First of all, since they have Weds/Fri, I believe the assumption is that I could take Mondays, but we have a playgroup Monday mornings we've been doing for nearly 3 years (although now just Miss E and I go). The last thing I want to do is have that whole day taken by obligations. Also, since I have orchestra on Sunday nights, I often spend Monday afternoons trying to get the house back in order after a weekend of less-than-impeccable cleaning habits.
Secondly, I am a big believer in harnessed car seats. Kate's will allow her to sit harnessed until she's 65 lbs., and I don't care if I have to wrestle her 7-year-old body into that chair, I will. They are the safest way for children to ride in a car. These moms aren't moving car seats around - they are just using booster seats with shoulder belts - even though our kids are still just a bit too young and small to use booster seats. When it comes down to it, I don't think I'm quite ready to let someone else drive my kid. Heck, I haven't even let her grandparents do that, yet.
Thirdly, I don't want to sacrifice a big part of a day each week to take care of those kids so their moms can have some kid-free time. I guess that's in part because I wouldn't get the same benefit. I don't get kid-free time - I still have Elizabeth around. I'd rather have Kate here Weds/Fris than do this rotation. When it's just my kids, I can still get things done. I can clean, do exercise, do laundry. I can live my life. With three 3-year-olds I will be busy the whole time making sure they don't destroy the house. It's an afternoon gone every week.
Last, but far from least - I'm not in such a hurry to "get rid" of Kate. She's already apart from me 3 mornings/week - that's a big change for us. This would add 2 days/week when she would be gone several more hours. She's not even four! I left my career to be home with her - to make her lunches and just be there. It makes no sense to me that 2 days/week she'd be 5 houses away while someone else feeds her - and I'm right here feeding Elizabeth. It's already going so fast - why speed it up even more?
I've made a lot of arguments against it. The big argument for it? Kate wants to go. They very kindly offer for Kate to come over for the "playdate" portion of the day, but I don't feel I can let her do that without reciprocating. And Kate really, really wants to go. She wants to play with kids all afternoon - even though when she does she is overstimulated and CRANKY. I feel like a totally selfish and mean mama that I don't want to have her friends over here all the time (at this age - later, I hope they practically live here). I feel sort of stuck on this.
So, friends, tell it to me straight. Do I need to get over myself, and have these kids over? Do I need to chill on the whole driving/booster thing? Am I entitled to think that 3 days of preschool is enough time away and it's OK for Kate to have the down-time at home?
First of all, since they have Weds/Fri, I believe the assumption is that I could take Mondays, but we have a playgroup Monday mornings we've been doing for nearly 3 years (although now just Miss E and I go). The last thing I want to do is have that whole day taken by obligations. Also, since I have orchestra on Sunday nights, I often spend Monday afternoons trying to get the house back in order after a weekend of less-than-impeccable cleaning habits.
Secondly, I am a big believer in harnessed car seats. Kate's will allow her to sit harnessed until she's 65 lbs., and I don't care if I have to wrestle her 7-year-old body into that chair, I will. They are the safest way for children to ride in a car. These moms aren't moving car seats around - they are just using booster seats with shoulder belts - even though our kids are still just a bit too young and small to use booster seats. When it comes down to it, I don't think I'm quite ready to let someone else drive my kid. Heck, I haven't even let her grandparents do that, yet.
Thirdly, I don't want to sacrifice a big part of a day each week to take care of those kids so their moms can have some kid-free time. I guess that's in part because I wouldn't get the same benefit. I don't get kid-free time - I still have Elizabeth around. I'd rather have Kate here Weds/Fris than do this rotation. When it's just my kids, I can still get things done. I can clean, do exercise, do laundry. I can live my life. With three 3-year-olds I will be busy the whole time making sure they don't destroy the house. It's an afternoon gone every week.
Last, but far from least - I'm not in such a hurry to "get rid" of Kate. She's already apart from me 3 mornings/week - that's a big change for us. This would add 2 days/week when she would be gone several more hours. She's not even four! I left my career to be home with her - to make her lunches and just be there. It makes no sense to me that 2 days/week she'd be 5 houses away while someone else feeds her - and I'm right here feeding Elizabeth. It's already going so fast - why speed it up even more?
I've made a lot of arguments against it. The big argument for it? Kate wants to go. They very kindly offer for Kate to come over for the "playdate" portion of the day, but I don't feel I can let her do that without reciprocating. And Kate really, really wants to go. She wants to play with kids all afternoon - even though when she does she is overstimulated and CRANKY. I feel like a totally selfish and mean mama that I don't want to have her friends over here all the time (at this age - later, I hope they practically live here). I feel sort of stuck on this.
So, friends, tell it to me straight. Do I need to get over myself, and have these kids over? Do I need to chill on the whole driving/booster thing? Am I entitled to think that 3 days of preschool is enough time away and it's OK for Kate to have the down-time at home?
Friday, August 21, 2009
Yep, 'cause that's what I really need
My mom is sending me links to quack diet programs. Subtle, eh?
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Flip-ing Out
Got my new Flip MinoHD video camera yesterday. It's my birthday present. I know my birthday is in December, but this way I have it to take to Hawaii!
If you don't know what it is, you should really check it out here. It's awesome.
So be prepared for some video clips here and on Facebook.
Here's my first clip:
If you don't know what it is, you should really check it out here. It's awesome.
So be prepared for some video clips here and on Facebook.
Here's my first clip:
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Come again?
I just told Pete, "I'm like a gay man in a woman's body."
It really made sense at the moment.
It really made sense at the moment.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Up-Date
Guess what? I like my husband! And he likes me, too!
I know that seems like a silly thing to say, but I must admit to having been a bit of a basket case the last couple of weeks. Pete shares little in terms of personality with his father. Regardless, having his dad leave wife #3 did give me panicked moments wondering when I'm going to come home someday and learn that Pete doesn't want to be married anymore.
It's wrong for me to doubt Pete like that. He certainly doesn't deserve it. It unquestionably annoys him. But sometimes having so much divorce in his family gets to me.
But I had a revelation on Friday that I think put those insecurities to rest. We must have a good relationship - because there's no way I would be THAT excited go to out with him if we didn't! And he was just as excited! It was like we were actually DATING again!
We got Elizabeth to bed first (Dana probably isn't quite up to dual bedtime yet) and then took off. A brief stop at CPK (right next to theater) for our favorite spring rolls and a beer and then off to the movie.
Star Trek was really quite good. I must admit to being a bit of a Trekkie. I had three geeky older brothers who introduced me to the first series. Then in high school, when Carrie was out on actual dates, I spent WAAAY too much time watching The Next Generation in my basement with Jared. Pete and I watched Enterprise when we were dating. I don't own any costumes, but am far from the uninitiated.
But I think even someone without these experiences would like this movie. It reinvigorates the whole Star Trek concept. The actors playing Kirk and Spock did a fantastic job of bringing in nuances of the originals without stepping into mimicry. The supporting characters provided much-needed comedic relief to an intense plot. Frankly, one of the better movies I've seen in awhile.
We were still home before 11 - and early night for the old folks - but it was probably the most fun we've had on a date in a long time. Now we just have to decide what to do THIS weekend!
As an aside - I let Kate put lip gloss on, and she is trying to talk without touching her lips together. Try it. It's pretty funny.
I know that seems like a silly thing to say, but I must admit to having been a bit of a basket case the last couple of weeks. Pete shares little in terms of personality with his father. Regardless, having his dad leave wife #3 did give me panicked moments wondering when I'm going to come home someday and learn that Pete doesn't want to be married anymore.
It's wrong for me to doubt Pete like that. He certainly doesn't deserve it. It unquestionably annoys him. But sometimes having so much divorce in his family gets to me.
But I had a revelation on Friday that I think put those insecurities to rest. We must have a good relationship - because there's no way I would be THAT excited go to out with him if we didn't! And he was just as excited! It was like we were actually DATING again!
We got Elizabeth to bed first (Dana probably isn't quite up to dual bedtime yet) and then took off. A brief stop at CPK (right next to theater) for our favorite spring rolls and a beer and then off to the movie.
Star Trek was really quite good. I must admit to being a bit of a Trekkie. I had three geeky older brothers who introduced me to the first series. Then in high school, when Carrie was out on actual dates, I spent WAAAY too much time watching The Next Generation in my basement with Jared. Pete and I watched Enterprise when we were dating. I don't own any costumes, but am far from the uninitiated.
But I think even someone without these experiences would like this movie. It reinvigorates the whole Star Trek concept. The actors playing Kirk and Spock did a fantastic job of bringing in nuances of the originals without stepping into mimicry. The supporting characters provided much-needed comedic relief to an intense plot. Frankly, one of the better movies I've seen in awhile.
We were still home before 11 - and early night for the old folks - but it was probably the most fun we've had on a date in a long time. Now we just have to decide what to do THIS weekend!
As an aside - I let Kate put lip gloss on, and she is trying to talk without touching her lips together. Try it. It's pretty funny.
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