This past weekend, we went to a fun family bar-b-que and fireworks. (A scant 40 miles away, but, being that it was on the OTHER side of NYC, it did take almost two hours to get there.)
The kids enjoyed running around in the LARGE yard (size of about 5 of our yards put together). Kids enjoyed the wading pools.
Kids enjoyed the food.
Kids (except 11 month old who slept through them) DID NOT enjoy the fireworks. It was too loud for those little ears. "Why did we have to go see them?" "Why?" "I just want to go home". "Are they over yet?" "How much longer?" "Please hold me mom".
Moral of the story: Next time, I'll bring ear plugs... prepare the kids... bring comfort things.... and try to have Daddy come with! Aunts and Uncles (and Cousins) tried to help me console the 3 older kids (while I had sleeping baby in my arms with blanket to shield the noise).
Or, maybe I'll do what I've done every other year: try to honor kiddie bedtime, leave before the fun walk to the park for the firework display, and deprive my kids of the American pastime of watching firework display.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Just another ER trip..
Today started with my three year old being "sick". (Long story short, potty-woes. someone is reluctant to use "the potty".. so holds it.. and feels a little sick until getting the gumption to actually confront that this is a fact of life that can't be avoided...)
After taking my 3 year old to the Dr's... (he said the right thing, and we are much better.. I dread the bill though)... My 5 year old started fighting on the way out of the Dr's.
Of course, this brought about a time-out when we arrived at home. (Manners are important, and not having good manners merits a few minutes to reflect. Isn't that fair?)
Of course, no one wants to stay in time out.
So, My five year old repeatedly pressed the boundaries, getting out of time-out...
And, in the process... got more rambunctious and angry...
This led to a "push" (I'd use the euphemism of a 'bump' but it really was a push) against older sibling 'cause the 6 year old was tattle-tailing that the 5 year old got out of time out (again).
BUT....
This didn't happen without consequences.
My six year old was standing next to a closet door which was left ajar.
The "bump" caused a head collision with the edge of a door. "MOM, IT HURTS" oh, yeah, and blood splatter.. and then blood-soaked paper towel.
Then the debate: where to go? I tried to get phone and get ahold of the dr who we had JUST SEEN. (Ironically, if it had been for the SAME kid, the receptionist implied that we could get in, but, we were told to go to the ER).
We chose the Not closest ER (1 1/2 miles away -- That one has terrible wait times), and when to the one 21/2 miles away.
Turns out we made a wise decision -- from triage time until exit time was about 2 hours. (Not bad! last ER visit was over four hours if memory serves me correctly). Although the Adult ER was swamped, the pediactric ER had empty beds, and we got great service.
So, at the end of the day, One Dr Visit, one ER visit, 3 staples in one kid.
All stories have happy endings (eventually). Drum roll...
I have four kiddies in bed. And, I even have a few spare minutes to post a blog entry!
After taking my 3 year old to the Dr's... (he said the right thing, and we are much better.. I dread the bill though)... My 5 year old started fighting on the way out of the Dr's.
Of course, this brought about a time-out when we arrived at home. (Manners are important, and not having good manners merits a few minutes to reflect. Isn't that fair?)
Of course, no one wants to stay in time out.
So, My five year old repeatedly pressed the boundaries, getting out of time-out...
And, in the process... got more rambunctious and angry...
This led to a "push" (I'd use the euphemism of a 'bump' but it really was a push) against older sibling 'cause the 6 year old was tattle-tailing that the 5 year old got out of time out (again).
BUT....
This didn't happen without consequences.
My six year old was standing next to a closet door which was left ajar.
The "bump" caused a head collision with the edge of a door. "MOM, IT HURTS" oh, yeah, and blood splatter.. and then blood-soaked paper towel.
Then the debate: where to go? I tried to get phone and get ahold of the dr who we had JUST SEEN. (Ironically, if it had been for the SAME kid, the receptionist implied that we could get in, but, we were told to go to the ER).
We chose the Not closest ER (1 1/2 miles away -- That one has terrible wait times), and when to the one 21/2 miles away.
Turns out we made a wise decision -- from triage time until exit time was about 2 hours. (Not bad! last ER visit was over four hours if memory serves me correctly). Although the Adult ER was swamped, the pediactric ER had empty beds, and we got great service.
So, at the end of the day, One Dr Visit, one ER visit, 3 staples in one kid.
All stories have happy endings (eventually). Drum roll...
I have four kiddies in bed. And, I even have a few spare minutes to post a blog entry!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
There's a farm in New York City!
Would you believe that there's a farm in New York City?
(Oh, and what other farm gives directions based on subway and bus routes??)
Back 'in the day' there used to be several... now there's only one.
Proof that everything is so dense here: I had heard about it, but it took living here for two years to actually drive that "far away" (about two miles, took between 10 and 15 minutes).
The kids LOVED the experience!
We got to see chickens, turkeys, cow, sheep, goats, peacocks, pigs, ducks, goose, apple orchard, fields. The kids (except the 11 month old) even got to go on a hay ride!
I want to return on a weekend to get a tour of the historic farm house (The Queens County Farm Museum dates back to 1697).
(Oh, and what other farm gives directions based on subway and bus routes??)
Back 'in the day' there used to be several... now there's only one.
Proof that everything is so dense here: I had heard about it, but it took living here for two years to actually drive that "far away" (about two miles, took between 10 and 15 minutes).
The kids LOVED the experience!
We got to see chickens, turkeys, cow, sheep, goats, peacocks, pigs, ducks, goose, apple orchard, fields. The kids (except the 11 month old) even got to go on a hay ride!
I want to return on a weekend to get a tour of the historic farm house (The Queens County Farm Museum dates back to 1697).
Thursday, June 5, 2008
How can you go from Starving, to stuffed without really eating?
Ok, so my kids claimed they were starving.
We had a large lunch at the mall (a treat)
They had munchies (i.e. samples) at Costco while shopping (again, a treat)
They had a real snack of (Costco-bought) granola bars.
When we arrived home. "MOMMMMMM, You didn't give us snack, we're starving!!!"
I gently reminded them, they had eaten, at which point they stopped complaining. But they said they wanted to eat dinner soon.
Dinner was cooked and served.
Yummy pizza (I was hungry - I hadn't had all their snacks, It tasted good). They barely touched their food.
When asked by their father "why aren't you eating"
"Dad, we're stuffed... we had too much to eat"
go figure.
We had a large lunch at the mall (a treat)
They had munchies (i.e. samples) at Costco while shopping (again, a treat)
They had a real snack of (Costco-bought) granola bars.
When we arrived home. "MOMMMMMM, You didn't give us snack, we're starving!!!"
I gently reminded them, they had eaten, at which point they stopped complaining. But they said they wanted to eat dinner soon.
Dinner was cooked and served.
Yummy pizza (I was hungry - I hadn't had all their snacks, It tasted good). They barely touched their food.
When asked by their father "why aren't you eating"
"Dad, we're stuffed... we had too much to eat"
go figure.
What do Whole Wheat Flour and Bathroom Sink have to do with each other?
We have creative children.
Who knows where they get their ideas?
Perhaps it's the Mr. Roger's tune "Let's think of something to do while we're waiting, while were waiting..."?
Well, I wish Mr. Roger's song included "never make a mess, while you're waiting", THAT would be a helpful tune to have in my kids' heads!
So, this evening, I was on the phone with a college friend.
I returned her call immediately after dinner.
I assumed my children went to the bathroom to wash their hands.
Perhaps, that was the original idea?
Someone (I think it was the 5 year old) brought the 5 pound container of whole wheat flour into the bathroom.
When I checked in on them (It's amazing how it only takes a few minutes for a mess to develop!) The sink was full with a Brown Liquid. Oh, goodness!
Time Outs, to each and every one.
"You know that mom paid money for that flour, and that flour was reserved for baking?"
"Oh, we didn't know that"!!!!!
Rather than risk a clogged drain, I emptied the sink out into the pail.
But, as I write this, there is a small area of paste on the bathroom floor that I need to remove, before it hardens...
At least my life isn't boring!
Who knows where they get their ideas?
Perhaps it's the Mr. Roger's tune "Let's think of something to do while we're waiting, while were waiting..."?
Well, I wish Mr. Roger's song included "never make a mess, while you're waiting", THAT would be a helpful tune to have in my kids' heads!
So, this evening, I was on the phone with a college friend.
I returned her call immediately after dinner.
I assumed my children went to the bathroom to wash their hands.
Perhaps, that was the original idea?
Someone (I think it was the 5 year old) brought the 5 pound container of whole wheat flour into the bathroom.
When I checked in on them (It's amazing how it only takes a few minutes for a mess to develop!) The sink was full with a Brown Liquid. Oh, goodness!
Time Outs, to each and every one.
"You know that mom paid money for that flour, and that flour was reserved for baking?"
"Oh, we didn't know that"!!!!!
Rather than risk a clogged drain, I emptied the sink out into the pail.
But, as I write this, there is a small area of paste on the bathroom floor that I need to remove, before it hardens...
At least my life isn't boring!
Just a little Cup of Apple Juice?
As parents, we've encouraged our children to do things for themselves that they can do.
In some ways, it's paid dividends: our oldest learned to tie his shoes at five years old, our next in line learned at three.
And our current three year old likes to do things too!
But, the other day, it started with a simple desire of a little cup of Apple Juice.
Now, I had just opened a full Costco-purchased 2 gallon jug of apple juice.
Of course, a three year old, can't pour that.
So, The FULL juice container (minus the one cup that had been poured previously, and the few ounces that remained) got spilled onto the kitchen counter and kitchen floor.
This, of course, included getting into the toaster oven, on cutting boards, etc.
Do you know how much a mess sticky apple juice is to clean up - when it's just a cup spilled?
Now, imagine volumes that should satisfy thirst for this family of six for at least a week...
Yup, you guessed it: A mess.
But, the adventure didn't end there. Realizing that it needed to be cleaned up, this three year old, grabbed the kitchen sink hose, and tried to spray it off. (Which, was an admirable idea, but, you guessed it -- wet. We don't want to let juice leak into the basement too!
Thankfully, I happened by the kitchen as the spill was expanding. And, we did have clean towels accessible.
It took a few days to get rid of the sticky residue from the floor and the counter. But, it got done.
Adventure concluded.
Of course, that means another one is around the corner!
In some ways, it's paid dividends: our oldest learned to tie his shoes at five years old, our next in line learned at three.
And our current three year old likes to do things too!
But, the other day, it started with a simple desire of a little cup of Apple Juice.
Now, I had just opened a full Costco-purchased 2 gallon jug of apple juice.
Of course, a three year old, can't pour that.
So, The FULL juice container (minus the one cup that had been poured previously, and the few ounces that remained) got spilled onto the kitchen counter and kitchen floor.
This, of course, included getting into the toaster oven, on cutting boards, etc.
Do you know how much a mess sticky apple juice is to clean up - when it's just a cup spilled?
Now, imagine volumes that should satisfy thirst for this family of six for at least a week...
Yup, you guessed it: A mess.
But, the adventure didn't end there. Realizing that it needed to be cleaned up, this three year old, grabbed the kitchen sink hose, and tried to spray it off. (Which, was an admirable idea, but, you guessed it -- wet. We don't want to let juice leak into the basement too!
Thankfully, I happened by the kitchen as the spill was expanding. And, we did have clean towels accessible.
It took a few days to get rid of the sticky residue from the floor and the counter. But, it got done.
Adventure concluded.
Of course, that means another one is around the corner!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Just another adventure...
What do you do when it is gorgeous outside?
Today, after taking our quick walk around the block, I realized it was indeed a gorgeous day!
I lamented that our library (my only errand of the day) is no longer in walking distance (few miles away 'bigger & better' community library).
Solution? Let's bikeride to the Library!
I have an awesome WIKE bike trailer that the almost-toddler and almost-preschooler were able to sit in. The preschooler-almost-kindergartener sat in the front (WeeRide Kangaroo) bike seat.
I love this setup! I am so glad 'the baby' is finally big enough to sit in the trailer and enjoy bike rides. Last time I went on a good bikeride -- well over a year ago -- I was pregnant with our youngest.
I was able to get some exercise and enjoy the outdoors with my children, arrive at the library just when it opened, enjoy library time with my children, and arrive home in time for PB&J lunch.
What could be better?
Oh, yea.. fresh air enticed all the little ones to take a nap this afternoon!
(So, a little laundry was done, and a little cleaning too)
Today, after taking our quick walk around the block, I realized it was indeed a gorgeous day!
I lamented that our library (my only errand of the day) is no longer in walking distance (few miles away 'bigger & better' community library).
Solution? Let's bikeride to the Library!
I have an awesome WIKE bike trailer that the almost-toddler and almost-preschooler were able to sit in. The preschooler-almost-kindergartener sat in the front (WeeRide Kangaroo) bike seat.
I love this setup! I am so glad 'the baby' is finally big enough to sit in the trailer and enjoy bike rides. Last time I went on a good bikeride -- well over a year ago -- I was pregnant with our youngest.
I was able to get some exercise and enjoy the outdoors with my children, arrive at the library just when it opened, enjoy library time with my children, and arrive home in time for PB&J lunch.
What could be better?
Oh, yea.. fresh air enticed all the little ones to take a nap this afternoon!
(So, a little laundry was done, and a little cleaning too)
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