Rewind: Mommy-Daughter Pre-K Date

When Hudson was about to start Kindergarten, I got a sitter for Claire one day and he and I went out for a day of fun.  The other day I was going through some of the picture folders on my computer when I discovered a bunch of pictures of Claire from the day I had with her at the end of August and realized I never posted about it.

Our day wasn't anything over the top or super exciting but it was as good as it could have been.  Just like any child, she needs quality one-on-one time and days like this one reminded me that I need to give that to both of my kids more often.

We dropped Hudson off at a friend's place late morning and Claire and I headed to Gardner Village in Salt Lake.  She was excited for our date but was apparently tired, too, and fell asleep for about 20 minutes on the way there.  We went to lunch at the main restaurant where I had a turkey sandwich and Claire had grilled cheese.  I ordered an appetizer of fried green tomatoes and Claire was brave enough to give them a try.  She wasn't a huge fan but ate a few bites.  As picky as my girl can be, I'm always impressed with how willing she is to be adventurous and try new things.

After lunch we headed to the salon/spa where Claire got to have her nails painted.  She chose a very bold pink with a clear glitter finish...so girly!  She was tickled to have her feet in the foam flip flops...it was obvious that she felt very important.  She looked so proud, happy, and grown up sitting there.

When her pretty toes were all ready to go, we walked around the other shops and got a treat at the bakery before leaving.  It was such a pleasant and easy time with my girl...something that we both needed.

It makes me a bit sad to think that I won't get to have a special pre-Kindergarten day with any more children of mine.  I guess I'll just have to find other reasons (or no reason at all!) to take my kids out for special days now and then.

Pack's Pumpkin Patch 2012

A couple of weeks ago I surprised the kids after school and took them up to Farmington for our annual trip to Pack's Pumpkin Patch.  It was a beautiful early fall day...not too cool and not too warm.  My only complaints would be 1) it was TOO dry out there and we all (including my car) came home pretty much covered in dirt and dust and 2) there were little thorns/stickers everywhere out in the fields - we had to pick them out of the bottoms of our shoes...dozens of them!

 

Each year the layout of the patch is slightly different but this year there were bigger changes than in the past.  Last year's parking lot is now pumpkin vine territory, the park lot is where the tent was last year, and the hay maze is where some of the vines were last year.  They made a new "bridge" for the hay maze on the flatbed of an old truck (the old bridge was looking pretty sad last year) and the maze seemed a bit bigger this time around.

 

After the kids had a few minutes in the maze, we headed out into the fields and took our sweet time picking out several pumpkins for carving and fall decor.  This year both kids were big enough to pull the cart and had fun taking turns doing so.  They both enjoyed it so much that I only had to pull it at the very end...darn!

 

 

 

In addition to the pumpkins pictured above, I picked out about 20 gourds and small/mini pumpkins to use on my fall fireplace mantle in a couple of week.  While I do love carving pumpkins and the fun of Halloween, I can hardly wait until its over so that I can decorate the house for harvest time and Thanksgiving!

 

Next up: one last "rewind" post from the end of the summer...

Kids + School + Busy = Me + Crazy

Holy smokes.  Forget the old saying about time flying when you're having fun.  Here's what I have to say:

 

"Time flies when the kids are just getting back in school, everyone is adjusting to a new schedule, and you think you're going to have SO much free time with the kids away and then you find out that you're horribly - almost hysterically - wrong."

 

I know the kids have been in school for several weeks now but still, it took a while for all of us to adjust and I'm just now starting to feel like we've gotten into the groove of things.  I felt like I was barely keeping my head above water for a solid month.  Those of you who have more kids than I do are probably rolling on the floor in fits of laughter right now.  I can see you.  And I can hear you saying, "You only have TWO kids, chica...try managing with 5!" (or 4, 7, 15 or any other number higher than 2).  Once upon a time I wanted at least 4 children.  I would have happily considered 5 and might have gone for 6 (if I had felt like I was supposed to have another).  Now, with as busy and crazed as I am with my 2, I wonder if I would have survived being a mom to that many kids.  And I wonder how those of you in that boat are sane.  Or are you?...

 

Now that I have conceded that I most likely have it easy with only two kids, I shall continue with my saga.  Since school started, our weeks have gotten more and more packed.  Our current schedules involve the following each week:

 

Claire

• group piano
• dance
• homework & piano practicing (daily)
• chores

Hudson

• piano
• Boy Scouts (3x/month)
• basketball practice (8 a.m. on Saturdays - blech!)
• basketball game (1 night/week)
• homework & piano practicing (daily)
• chores

Me

• volunteer all morning in C's class one day a week
• volunteer in H's class all morning one day a week
• pick up C & friend from school 2-3 times a week
• drive to and from dance every other week
• get H to & from basketball practices & attend games
• do all that other stuff that moms do: laundry, cleaning, cooking, laundry, grocery shopping, oversee/manage kids' homework & piano practicing (and chores!), and laundry
• attempt to stay sane and find some time for myself while doing all the things listed above

You want to know what the craziest part of all of this is?

 

I voluntarily got us into most of this.

 

Okay, I got into all of it when I became a mom...but a lot of it is what one could call "fluff".  My kids don't NEED to be in piano.  Claire doesn't NEED to be in dance and Hudson doesn't NEED to play basketball or go to Boy Scouts.  That being said, they're happy doing these things and that makes me happy.  I'm just glad that Max and I decided some time ago that we'll only allow one instrument and one sport at a time - 'cause if you ask me, signing up for more than that is like asking for a giant serving of psychosis with a generous helping of loony sauce on top.  Now, don't think I'm critical of those who do have their kids in multiple sports and such.  I'm actually somewhat in awe of them and their ability to juggle it all.  Besides, I'm sure that I will someday eat my words and you can all laugh at me again when I do.

 

In the meantime, I'm going to keep on running around like a chicken with her head cut off.  Oh - and just to mix things up a bit, Max had a kidney stone this week.  And he'll be having major surgery in a few weeks.  He's having his right hip resurfaced (left one was done about 4 1/2 years ago...the combination of hip dysplasia and degenerative arthritis is a real doozy).  Wish me luck!