Curses

My children live in a bubble.   They believe in the Tooth Fairy, Santa, The Easter Bunny, and Leprechauns that prance through the house St. Patrick's Eve leaving coins and candy. Of course, after they have successfully freed themselves of the booby traps that the children have set.  The cardboard box traps are like 5 star hotels.  They tried to entice the leprechauns to stay once caught with barbie furniture, flooring, and jewelery as lures. Although, I think it would take a pretty "special" leprechaun to get caught in one.  I think Trouble even cut a door into hers.  I can't think of an easier escape route than that!

 They are so innocent, or so I thought.  My 9 year old and I were talking about swear words this week.  She declared that people at school told her S-T-U-P-I-D is not a swear word.  WHAT? SINCE WHEN!?  Okay. I don't want her looking like the village idiot at school so we had a discussion about it isn't a nice word and in our house it is not to be used as it is like a swear word.  (Oops! I forgot I-D-I-O-T is a swear in our house too.)

She then pipes up that she know a few more swear words.  Who is this kid hanging around!!?!?  She states she knows the "F" word.   Ok.  I'm not really surprised. I figured sooner or later she would learn that one at school.  It's not as if I can send her with earmuffs to wear on the playground just so she doesn't hear bad words. Then she states that she knows the "C" word.  ACK!  Shut the front door!  Who the heck would have taught her the "C" word in grade 3??!!?!?!  I'm ready to visit her school and have a chat with her teacher to find out what is going on when Trouble pipes up, "OH, you mean CRAP!"   Phew. Maybe they are still a little more innocent than I thought.

Rational

I've been busy reading the Hunger Games trilogy this past week.  I couldn't put it down and it isn't even the type of book I'd usually read.  I didn't accomplish much else in the evenings!

Friday, the 6 of us went on a quick trip to the States during the PA day.   We decided we'd take the kids to Chuck E. Cheese for some fun and do a little shopping.  I think others had the same idea.  Thankfully, Chuck E. Cheese was almost empty but almost all of the vehicles at the mall had Ontario license plates.

 I'm not sure what it is about the large bridge we must cross at the border but it causes my 7 year old to lose the ability to think rationally.   Recalling an earlier visit when we were sitting on the bridge waiting for customs she looked up and asked, "Are we underwater?"  HUH?     

This time as we idled on the bridge waiting our turn she exclaims, "The USA sure is small!   She has seen a map before and knows how large the USA is so I'm not sure what she was thinking.  Fast forward 15 minutes. We are past customs and on our way.  She declares, "Boy, it sure looks united here."  Jeff and I tried to suppress our laughter, unsuccessfully.  I'm not sure where she gets these things.

Yesterday, I ordered the limited edition Alanna Cavanagh tea towel from thebay.com.  Okay, I ordered 3 but 2 aren't for me!  I was probably the first order since I had been checking frequently.   I was contemplating taking all 4 kids to the mall on the weekend, while Jeff was working,  in hopes that they may have them in stock at our local Bay.  I decided the $7 shipping & handling was worth every penny.  I think I may frame it for our 9 year old's room. (Yes, I know it is a tea towel but I think it is too cute to use.)  Alanna Cavanagh even named the cute dog Walter. You can see more of her amazing work at http://alannacavanagh.com/home.html.  I really love her typewriter illustration and hope she does a silk screen of it soon.  Can't wait to get it!

 

  

Stubborn

I love my children.  All of them.  I'm learning to appreciate each child for their own little personalities. Some days are a little harder than others..

We were lucky we had 3 children before we even experienced the terrible twos.   I had no idea what it was like.  I figured it must be parenting issues when I saw a child having a tantrum in a public place.  I no longer believe it is a result of the parenting.   But are the terrible twos related indirectly?

Here is my baby.  He's a tad speech delayed but we're working on it.  This is a picture of him enjoying a snack at Tim Horton's this week while the girls are at school and his brother is at preschool.  Great picture, no thanks to my photography skills.  This picture doesn't show the full story.  It certainly doesn't give any indication that mommy had to carry him into the restaurant while he was fully resisting. If he would have thought to grab hold of the van in his attempt he probably would have.  I can only imagine what he would have said if he could have expressed himself verbally.  As it was, he decided blood curling screams should be enough.  
 

Thankfully, once we got inside he was instantly transformed from crazed child to angel.  He didn't really like the chocolate Timbits that I offered him . (He's only had one or two before ever)  He did request chocolate milk.  That, I can live with.

Today, I carried him again kicking and screaming to the car.  This was because he didn't want to hold my hand in the busy Wal-Mart parking lot.  I am thankful I am able to carry his flailing 42 pound body.  Last week I was especially thankful I can carry him with one arm when I had to carry him screaming, flailing and crying from the park while pulling the wagon with his 40 pound brother in the other hand.  

He is definitely our child.   He seems to be exhibiting a few traits that Jeff and I seem to have, although not necessarily all the best ones.. Luckily, I haven't had to carry Jeff having a tantrum. Yet. :)     

Miller is stubborn.   If he doesn't want to go someplace or do something he's going to let you know.  As he's not yet able to express himself with words it usually manifests itself in screaming and resisting.  

The poor babysitter who has had to brush his teeth on a recent occasion that Jeff and I went said as much. She was paid handsomely that night.    

My mantra at the moment:   "This too shall pass"  

I'm hoping sooner than later or I may no longer need a gym membership. :)  

Allergy Rant

It has been more than 2 years since our 3rd child was diagnosed with a peanut/tree nut allergy. After our initial allergist appointment we were told he was allergic to peanuts and given a prescription for an epi-pen.  Bye-Bye. (Here is where they pushed us out the door..  kidding... at least they didn't physically push us out)  

 We're still learning about the allergy along they way and now have a great Paediatric Allergist Doctor..  For example we just learnt if he's never been exposed to a certain nut, he may not show as allergic to that nut when doing allergy testing.  I know if you don't have a nut allergy in your house you may not have to think about these things so thought I would compile some tidbits for those who encounter somebody with a nut allergy.

Or maybe you can just call it a rant....

Note:  This is what works for us and is just our opinion, we aren't medical doctors or I'd be charging A LOT for these pointers.

1.  Please do not bring/offer homemade baking.  Unless I know you are as neurotic as I am, you are just going to assist in making my husband and his work friends fat.

2.   Anything purchased from the bulk barn, or bulk areas are out because of cross contamination.  Therefore, the flour purchased at bulk barn may have a secret.  And not a juicy one.

4.  Peanut butter is BAD.  Sooo bad.    

3.   Tim Hortons has warning signs in their drive thru windows and state on their website that their products may contain nuts or be cross contaminated.  Therefore, Tim Hortons timbits is not a suitable snack to bring to a preschool party when you know there are children with nut allergies.

4.   Even if an establishment has a sign saying they are nut free ask anyway. At one we used to visit I thought the cookies looked similar to ones I'd seen somewhere else.  I asked and was told there were NO ACTUAL PEANUTS in them, which is VERY different from nut free.

5.   Labels are our friend.  Bring the box of crackers that shows the ingredients and I'm a happy camper. If I don't know the ingredient list.  I won't serve it.

6.  We discovered www.enjoylifefoods.com and some of their products at our local organic bakery  NUT FREE TRAIL MIX.  WHOO HOO!

Let's just say I'm thankful it's just a nut allergy and otherwise he's a perfectly happy & healthy 4 year old.  Can you imagine if it was a chocolate allergy?  I think if I had a chocolate allergy it would be worth the epi-pen and trip to emerg. and daily at that.

Definitely Not Martha

I am definitely not Martha Stewart.  I started out on the right track.  My house was tidy, organized and clean and I had one child.  Then I had another.  Then the girls started to dress themselves.  And then I had the boys.  Martha definitely did not have boys.  It is much easier to keep a neat and tidy house when you only have one child and that child is a girl.   I also gave up on the household decor after the boys.  Specifically, when a glass bowl from the centre of my kitchen table ended up in itsy bitsy pieces on the floor. Every reachable surface in our house has been bare for the last 3 or so years.  We have just started putting a few things back.  We have a sturdy indestructible bowl filled with pine cones on our front hall table.  Thankfully, pine cones are easily replaceable.

My coffee table books haven't fared so well.    My historical Archaeology book is missing the dust jacket.  The Inconvenient Truth has a few rips, tears, and bends.  It looks a little worse for wear, just like our planet.  How ironic.    We purchased a sturdy stainless steel bowl from Ikea for the coffee table as well.  Love the bowl. It is so pretty.  Here it is.  

However,  why must it be so shiny?  The designer obviously did not have toddlers in the house.   I do not love the constant fingerprints on it, nor do I like the dents it puts into the hardwood when one of the boys decide to spin it off the coffee table. 

Back to Martha. I was reading online a "how to guide" on organizing sock drawers that reminded me of her.  Really!?  Who really has the time or desire to fold underwear? If I am in a car accident are they going to notice my underwear is crease free en route to the hospital?  Doubtful.  Do I need to drive myself crazy any more than I already am?   No. I think I'll just stick to separating socks and underwear in the drawers and call it a day..

I'll worry about the bigger problems instead.  This is what a 7 year old (yes, it is Tornado's room) can do to a bedroom after it was cleaned today. Twice.

Are there any stuffed animals left in the bucket?

I would love to trade places with Martha right now.  Leave her in our house for a week and see how she fares.  I think she may have met her match with "Tornado."  I think Martha might be a little worse for wear by the end of the week.  Hopefully, she'd emerge at least sane.

No matter how crazy it can get we are lucky enough to have healthy children who are relatively polite, respectful and sweet. Our house isn't utter chaos as you might expect. Yes, it can be chaotic at times, but realistically I think most families have those moments. So what if I forgot the muffins were in the oven today when I took 5 minutes to help the kids outside.  They were only slightly crispy on the outside.  The kids appreciated the help and isn't that what is important?  Are they going to remember if their underwear was folded nicely in their drawers or will they remember if mommy took the time to help them?

So, if you come to our house you can expect to see some slightly messy but great kids.  Just don't judge me by the creases in my underwear.     

Lego, Lego and more Lego

Lego is not meant for people with A type personalities or for people who strive for order.  Or their children for that matter.  It should come with a warning label that says "BACK AWAY NOW, this product is NOT for you!"  

Lego has recently been introduced into our house.  All children love Lego including mine, each in their own way.  Our eldest has the new girl Lego which both girls play with quite contently. Our 4 year old has some Lego vehicles which he likes me to put together for him.  After 10 minutes of referencing the manual for the umpteenth time, I have most of it together, minus some lost pieces, which increase in quantity every time he ask me to build it.  Within 1/2 hour he has moved onto something else.  Our youngest has then deconstructed the said vehicle.  Did I mention there are now pieces EVERYWHERE?!  I cringe every time I walk by a set in pieces or find a piece under the couch.  How does it not bother them!?  How can a vehicle have only one fender and be missing half the headlights and be okay to drive?  Whatever happened to the Lego guy's hair?  He went bald overnight and doesn't have an issue with it!   I want to drop what I'm doing and put the sets together before any more pieces get lost.  Sorry kids, no supper tonight, mommy has to build the Lego sets. (kidding)

I think Lego should invent special A type personality Lego glue.  Maybe it should be water soluble so when the kids were big enough to build the set exactly they could be deconstructed again.   I would probably accidentally glue myself to the set but will be much happier if I didn't find any more pieces in the duct work or laundry!    Or I could just throw away the instructions and let them go crazy..

 (Ack. I think that option may cause me to have an aneurysm.)  :)