Two-On-One Day

Today we did a two-on-one parent day! I took Ace and Boomer to the legendary Yesterdog! I have not taken any of our kids yet to this old college hang-out!! Those of you who have been, know that it is a must do in our city! There was a movie made that is based on the town and Yesterdog is played by a hangout they called "Dogyears" in the American Pie movies!! Check that out here! Now none of the kids will be seeing those movies until they are at least 18, but they understood the significance of the trip regardless!! 

 

                                           We just ordered our first Yesterdogs!!

  Ace got the "Ultra-dog" on the left and Boomer chose the "Cheddar-Dog" on the right!!

 "what's all the hype about? LET US TRY!!!

 "YUUUMMMMM!!"

 They even got to sign the wall! This might of been their favorite part!!!!!

Ace to Boomer as we walked out "I can't wait to tell all my friends about how I am now famous cuz I ate at Yesterdog..." Boomer'S response, "yeah, my teacher will love me!!"
Just another successful One on One day...or Two-on-One day!

Mothers of 4!

         Sleep is apparently over-rated when you are the mother of four! If you are like me, you  sometimes find yourself trying to re-live the glory days when you could stay up to all odd hours doing whatever you wanted (TV, COMPUTER, GAME NIGHT, BAR HOPPING, PHONE CHATTING, MOVIE WATCHING etc.) and then sleep until lunchtime...at least on Saturdays,Sundays, summer vacation, and all the important holidays. Well...those of us with kids know those lazy, fun days are officially OVER.Like long gone OVER! Because quite honestly, by the time our kids are old enough to sleep in until noon themselves, we will be older than old. Older than old people DON'T sleep in. I don't know why, but I don't know any  are you crazy?, "My kids sleep from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m...I have never gotten more sleep in my life, mine are in bed and done!"Good for you then...(here is where I stick my tongue out, lol) But for the rest of us sleep deprived (for more than a year  or 2 )moms...this is for you! My last two,Tank and Q are terrible sleepers and Tank only began sleeping overnight at age 3 and 3 months old. Q still gets up once or twice a night (most) nights!

Let's begin with the evening routine. If you are a stay at home mom(like me) with any sense of your complete mind and your sanity, your kids have a strict bedtime. Mine all go to bed at 8. Bath/Shower time is at 7:30. You brush their teeth(yes even the 8 year old needs some instruction,Dentist bills people, do you wanna shell out money for cavities and dental work due to lackadaisical brushing?), read them books,(have them read a book to you) say their prayers(remind them of the short version you prefer) and tuck their sweet crazy little bodies into their  bedrooms... thinking you will close the door with a smile on every one's face and not see these little cute angel-babies until sunrise.(HA) If this is current reality/dream, I am guessing that  a) you don't have any kids yet and think you can "sleep-train" or b) you happened to be blessed with one of those rare infants that sleep well. (and if you are, consider yourself one of god's chosen ones...really, that lucky!)

I look forward to bedtime, quite honesty, but I do not know any child that likes bedtime under 14.  From the moment of the announcement, "It's bedtime  wild sweet children ! Let's go brush "our "teeth!!" you can be 100% that you will endure a chorus of simultaneous whining, maybe some thrashing, definitely some bargaining and deal making. You know it will drag on and on times 4. Believe me not, you will hear it all! "What?! But MOMMYYYYY.....we didn't get to watch the movie of the day " YOU SAID we could before bed....Moooommmm!!" One can get easily sucked into this mantra and guilt-trip. If your kids are like mine, they know every  button to push. Additionally  if they are smart they will divide and conquer a plan together and ambush you. It has unfortunately happened too many times and I become a push-over. That is DEATH..well almost, because now they work on your weaknesses. That is BAD news folks.Ok, back on topic, Brushing their teeth  turns into a type of frenzy in a 3 ring circus (a 4 ring in my case) as you repeat(multiple times per kid) "Open your mouth! Look up! No UP! Smile..bigger.....stop drooling, it is nasty and  NO you are not done yet. Do you want bugs to come and live in there, keep going... getting water  on your toothbrush does NOT count!!!" And forget the daily flossing. I mean really. (sorry dentists out there) I can not floss each kid 1 or 2 times a day 7 days a week...so offer a new standard ok?)(Monday and Wed and Fri for us)Who has the energy for that after 13-15 hours spent with 4 little kids. You instruct everyone to use the bathroom, actually try and FLUSH the darn thing...and say "I MEAN IT" because you are so tired of flushing toilets all darn day that you could scream!(ok you do scream!!)


Then going into the(each) bedroom you go hearing, "Mom will you read me this?" Of course, you can bet that it will be the LONGEST
, most involved book on the bookshelf!  "No,not tonight honey, maybe tomorrow, how about this one, it is so cute"  as you pull out a easy reader and silently remind yourself to put the big one  into the garage sale pile you have not had time to organize... and take note of who gave that book to your child in the first place anyway? Surely some distant family member who knew she would not have to be here each night to read it and just wanted to pass on the misery. And if you have 4 kids  they surely will not all agree on the book so to stop the fights and more dragging on you read 4.Moving on....so once the books have all been read and the nightly reminders to "GO STRAIGHT TO BED"(complete with 3 sets of giggles and the acknowledgement of "we know mom" and the "look" that follow from you) . It is time to walk away. Right? No. Not here! It is now time to answer the many requests of "Can I have a sippy of water? Where is my Buzz Lightyear ?" (insert any item you know has been missing/gone and no one cared about till now?) " I wanted the Barbie pillowcase not the polka dot one, is it in the laundry? Mommy! You know I have to have my barbie one to sleep the best!" It's just too dark in here. I need my "doggy" light on. can you turn the sound soother up? I need the fan pointing to my face(LEGS,ARMS, TOES) It's too hot in here. I'm REAALLLLY HUNGRY can I have a little snack?" You quickly appease them efficiently while making  your way out their door...finally closing it with a BIG sigh of relief and the freedom 4 in bed means. AT LAST, quiet. No CALLIOU, No tattling,crying, fighting, laughing, barking, meowing(when Q is a cat of course). You go to the bathroom and pick up all 4 towels ,all bottles of soap and toys and toothbrush mess. Next wipe the counter and sink down from the disgusting needed tooth brushing episode and collect an army of dirty laundry. You make your way to the coveted sweet spot on the couch, click on the DVRed show you have waited beyond long enough to watch and relax.
 Now an old pro you know it is not over. Because knowing it is not over you don't start the show yet and it is a good thing cuz someone is calling. You decipher which kid, in which room and  remind your self to have patience and calmness as to answer 'YES,------------, (insert sweet ones name). New requests are made like " I want another kiss cuz you did not kiss me 2 times, just once." Goodness gracious I mean really!Another 2 to 4 kisses and hugs later you make your way back to the show. Just as you are coming to the first commercial break...you hear movement such as walking and can now sense which kid is on the move and make your way up the stairs with a mission."Momma,I have to go potty." What?!!! Didn't we go do that already, you were told to go, you know better than that_______(insert annoying ones' name), Now go". Are ya kidding me"Ugggh. And they know this tops ALL other delay tactics because  no body wants to be changing  any dirty wet bed sheets at 2 a.m , 8 am who am I kidding?." ......"and darling,  Flush the toilet and tuck yourself back in bed! And I don't wanna hear from you again tonight, unless it is an emergency!!! Love you and good night again".

Finally, an hour or two of stress relieving alone time(zoning out time) for the very first time all day. When you head off to bed yourself, you have to  flush all the toilets no one flushed in the last 4 hours, made all the school lunches and got the uniforms ready, loaded the dishwasher, loaded the backpacks  and set them by the front door,pick up left over clutter in all rooms downstairs...you can finally collapse into the hopes of long, needed deep sleep....just as you are beginning to drift off ...the sudden and all well knowing sounds of baby/child #1,2,3,or 4 opening the door,crying,walking,whining,peeing,coughing, sneezing, mumbling   needing only Mommy, will suddenly pull you back to reality as you awake. Your old(pre-kid) sleeping routine you once overlooked is gone! You now have kids...... Welcome to motherhood with four. Oh and Bedtime is about to begin(again).....wish me luck folks!!!!!

Hi-Ya Video

I got the video from "Hi-Ya" to work now! Enjoy!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIg-MjvF3r4

Hi-Ya!!

As tradition goes, the kids and Z "play"hi-ya"  each night while I clean up from dinner.EVERY SINGLE NIGHT!!!  Usually, I only hear the sound effects from this activity over my running water from the sink. I've never  taken part in this manly act, it always sounded too rough for me and knew I probably wouldn't allow  the rough-housing I would've seen. (deep down I knew they loved it and know that they look forward to after dinner for this sole reason each night). They always tried to get me involved but I always say "NOPE, it is Daddy's time, Mommy has to clean-up" Today, we used paper plates and had subs so there was hardly any clean-up. Therefore, I earned a front row ticket to watch this much anticipated event. It was just as I imagined it would be, rough and loud!!! It is Crazy!!!!!!

Now i know why they love it, a chance to beat up on each other, but also on Daddy!! LOL!!!




For Some reason, it downloaded twice!!

Time

           Well today was a unusual Sunday. By that I mean that Z actually asked if I wanted him to take the kids for awhile and give me a break! Well, I would be outta my mind to say no..right?? So of course I said "absolutely"! I got the kids all dressed in their swimsuits and sunscreen and towels were packed for an afternoon at the local splash pad. All the while planning my alone time in my head . I would paint my nails, catch up on some DVRed shows I have had to give up since summer started and I lost any time to do so. I thought about reading on my nook and getting a iced coffee, maybe a face mask if I had time even a short nap after all that ohhh, the thought... the list went on and on.

           After I buckled and waved goodbye I came inside and heard....QUIET!  It was so magical. No fighting, crying, whining, singing or whistling(Ace's new pastime). I sat and thought of what I should do for these 3 hours once again. I began to feel overwhelmed. As I looked around from  the couch, I saw a cluttered living room, a kitchen table that needed to polished. I saw that remnants of  Boomer's attempt to brush Gunner's fur. There was dog hair on the couch and rug. I remembered that the clothes needed to be switched into the dryer and so on and so on. Bummer. So instead of a nice relaxing 3 hours I would've had, I chose to do.......CHORES!All of them I could think of. Loaded the dishwasher, did 2 loads of laundry, reorganized the uniforms(WHICH INCLUDED buying two new storage shelves) vacuumed, dusted, mopped, and a trip to the market for produce for the week!! LOL!! Additionally, I made some matches in lost sock pile. I even polished the stove and the microwave.Terrible isn't it?? I do feel accomplished though.... instead of relaxed, which is better?? Gosh that is a real toss-up! Either way the time flew!! On the other hand, I did get to do all of those alone without my flock following! And I did treat my self with a fountain pop....funny but true. One of my favorite treats is a good 'ole fountain pop from McDonald's!

Finally Z got back with the fab 4 and boy were they hyper!! I was told I missed Boomer 's best line yet!! Here is the back story.....Boomer and Tank like to play house, or as they call it "Mom and Dad". They both love it but Tank especially asks her to play. She likes to use this to her advantage often times. For example, she will say something like "if you don't let me have your candy then, no mom and dad for a week"/ Well she says ultimatum's all all all the time which get annoying even for Z and I. However, today while at the splash pad Boomer said to Tank "I will only play Mom and Dad with you in case of an Emergency!!!" What a threat!!!LOL!! How is playing an emergency??? Kinda sad I missed that!! :) But like that I got to clean without any "help" or so called "help"

My Little American Idol!!

Introducing Baby Q in his rendition of "Caillou" a PBS show he is ADDICTED to!(since 11 months old, FYI) He must watch this show or he loses his mind!! I thought that it was a phase. All four kids will watch this show. Tank use to eat,sleep,talk,Caillou too, but that is slowly on the way out.Either way, Q still ADORES it!It is soooo ANNOYING and repeative. It makes us adults wanna pull our hair out at times. The narrator is  a very old sweet lady who loves to hear herself talk I think and the more she does the more I lose a grip on reality. Really! They have a real catchy theme song regardless and they all love it! Ace claims that he doesn't like Caillou... however, I have caught him humming or just plain singing it out loud when they think no one is listening! Boomer too actually. She will still watch it if she is around ! The song is catchy... I don't blame 'em, heck  I even have that annoying song in my head most days!!  Regardless, it is still so stinkin' cute when your 2 year old tries to sing it! He has just begun singing the theme song and is almost always a few beats behind. He loves to pronounce "caillou" each time they repeat it and I had to catch his version before he stops doing it! I have said many times to Z that I MUST get this one recorded.   So folks, with no further  ado here is BABY Q and "Caillou".

*FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NO IDEA WHO CAILLOU IS, CONSIDER YOURSELF LUCKY...CURIOUS ANYWAY....CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW BEFORE SEEING Q'S  VIDEO*

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=caillou&hl=en&sa=X&rlz=1C1CHNY_enUS415US415&biw=1280&bih=669&tbm=isch&prmd=ivns&tbnid=WBzPi9eJgozDkM:&imgrefurl=http://pbskids.kids.us/program-caillou.html&docid=61gjQdhZaIx5zM&w=262&h=258&ei=D_o5TtKvJ-KCsAK1uPUg&zoom=1

Official

Well, it is official, summer is over! School started today for our two "big" kids! Ace started 4th grade and Boomer started 1st! They were both really excited about school starting back after the "Meet the Teacher" night! I had to post pictures, they are just so darn cute!! (we were in a hurry so it came out a bit blurry) .

My 1st grader! Miss Independent. She was so excited and a bit nervous but left with a big smile.She is in an advanced 1st grade and this she was worried she would have a hard time keeping up. However, she did great and is as cute as can be. She is into a headband phase now but will still let me put bows in her hair. She loves to wear skirts, dresses and knee highs. That's a great thing because she wears a uniform everyday.She loves to accessorize and this picture shows that. How many silly bands is that Boomer? I miss her giggles and sassyness already!

Last minute Ace decided on the red shirt, so we did not have time to take a alone picture of him... think he may have planned that too! I can't believe that he is in 4th grade. Seems too old! He is one of the youngest kids in his class, but is doing well! He really likes his classroom and sits in the front. He let go of my hand as i walked him to his line and I could see that he really didn't need me. It was  a sad moment for me. I knew it was coming but I dreaded that day he wouldn't "need" me to walk him to his line of the first day of school. So it is needless to say that there was no kiss goodbye either. I remained calm and waved goodbye from the curb as little man walked off with confidence.

Tank will start on September 12th. He will go three times a week to preschool  (in the 4 year old room aka,Dinosaurs). I am already sad for that day as well. It is one step closer to kindergarten and having to let go of my baby.

 I will cry that day as well. Here is to a GREAT year!! I am not ready for next year either, My Tanky will go to kindergarten and Baby Q will go to 3 yr old preschool (Honeybees). I am going to enjoy my time I have left!

linking up to http://www.mamakatslosinit.com/blog/