Proud Taekwondo Mama

Jack started Taekwondo almost 1 year ago. Actually, he started at the end of January last year because I thought it would be good for him to (a) learn some discipline and (b) get some exercise. I have to say that I am quite pleased with it on both counts, although while he listens wonderfully to his Taekwondo Instructor, I am still waiting for some of it to rub off on the home front. I am keeping my fingers crossed it will happen in time. Also, in the last 6 months he has actually lost 1 pound and grown 1 1/2 inches, and his doctor was very pleased. She was getting a little worried considering from the ages of 4 - 5 he gained 11 pounds, from 5 - 6 he gained 17 pounds and from 6 - 7 he gained another 10. This seemed to be a pattern that would put Jack at about 200 pounds by the 5th grade, so hopefully the Taekwondo and (slightly) better eating habits will continue to pay off. When we first started I remember thinking that he would never be able to learn all the moves, kicks, blocks, punches, and forms it would take to advance very far. Most of these moves are too difficult for even me to try to attempt, and the forms consist of a series of moves much like a dance that to me all look the same. But learn them he has. After only a couple of months he tested for his Orange Belt and we were quite impressed.

Then Summer came and he achieved his Yellow Belt.

Then he went for his Yellow Stripe.

Just this last Friday night, his achieved his Green. This was an exceptionally difficult test for all the kids (and adults), with the entire test board sitting for it and quite a bit of pressure. But they all did wonderful, although I spent the almost entire 2 1/2 hours sitting on my hands, with my feet icy cold with fear and feeling very, very nervous (you would have thought it was me out there attempting forms and snap front jump kicks).

Five belts in and he has learned so much and grown up so much and stuck with it, and we are truly proud.

Also, in case you missed it, look below or click here to see the details for my first ever contest. Don't forget to leave a comment telling me your favorite Holiday song for your chance to win a Dunkin Donuts card.

Everyday Math

Have you every heard about Everyday Math? If you have kids between kindergarten and sixth grade you certainly have. Now when kids get to school they all learn this Everyday Math system. This was created in Chicago by some math people who decided that the old way in which we ourselves learned to do math in our youth was totally wrong and made us all grow up to be idiots that couldn't add 2 and 2 or divide properly. (I am not 100% positive that is why Everyday Math was invented but I think it may be the reason given.) This math is not at all the same as the math I did when I was a kid. I mean, I did math every day, but not Everyday Math. It doesn't seem to be the same at all. Whereas we added 2 of the same numbers, i.e., 2 + 2 = 4, Jack now does "Doubles Facts" which sounds more exciting and like a fun game but is still just adding 2 identical numbers together. They have "units" and "frames-and-arrows" and "number triangles". In this triangle there are 3 numbers and the biggest one is on the top and it has a little dot next to it. What? A little dot? They have "rules" that I am not quite sure of and haven't really investigated properly at all. Last week he had to make up "numbers stories" which was basically a word problem but with a different name. I'm so confused. And this is SECOND GRADE people! S-E-C-O-N-D G-R-A-D-E. The funny part is that Jack gets it. He understands completely what is going on with this math (I hope it stays that way!). He is explaining to me how to do his homework, rather than the other way around. I hear that once he gets past the 6th grade though they just abandon this Everyday Math and go back to regular math. Then he will have to re-learn, and I think I may be as equally useless because I have no recollection of math from that time frame either. Is that when you start geometry? I have a vague recollection of being good at that. Or was that algebra? I would say his father could help, but he is worse at math than I am. His senior year of high school his teacher actually gave him a D rather than an F just so that he would graduate and get the hell out of there.

Ahhh, Routine

I love the Fall. I mean I love love love the Fall. The air starts to get crisp and smell great and sweaters are on the way and you can wear more layers without sweating your you know what off. Best of all, with the Fall comes routine, and if there is something I love almost as much as Fall, it is routine. Getting the kids to bed at the same time, getting up at the same time, going to school, to work, to soccer, to taekwondo. Not to mention that all the good shows will be coming back soon, which for me is awesome because I really don't like reality t.v. Sure, we are going to be busy. Today alone we had back to back activities, but it was followed up with some pizza from the pizza place and a Bud Light with Lime. Ahhh, lovely.

In other Fall news, Jack started the second grade on Tuesday. Second grade! I can't believe it. Only one more year and we go into the dreaded . . . gulp . . . MCAS testing years. And he's like an honest to goodness boy now. Not like before he was Pinocchio or anything, but today he's zipping around on his bike and fooling around with his friends at the park, barely acknowledging my existence. Abbey had her very first soccer practice and she was so excited. In her pink shinguard's with her little ponytail swinging, she was A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E. It was so great to watch her practice while Jack was biking around with his friends. Unlike when he practices and she pulls on my arms and jumps on my back like a monkey and begs to be taken to the playground. Oh well, I'm sure that soon enough neither of them will want to be anywhere near me when we go to the fields, so for now I should probably appreciate their attention.

My new second grader (check out his spikey hair)

The Queen of Soccer

Floating Around In A Giant Swan

Yesterday some friends and I took our kids into Boston to go to the Common. In all of my years of life I had never been to the Boston Common, so it was really fun. Although they predicted sweltering heat and afternoon thunderstorms the weather turned out to be fine. Hot, yes. But no storms. We almost cancelled, but decided that since we live in New England that weather reports really don't matter that much and we should go anyway. So glad we did. We rode the Swan Boats which were great. And cheap! Only $2.75 for adults and $1.50 for kids. Granted it is only a 15 minute ride, but still. The kids loved it. After that we walked over to the other side of the common where they had a playground and places for us to have our picnic lunch. I'm not sure why eating on the ground has such appeal for kids, but mine love it. After that the kids were begging to go in this:

I had no idea that the Common had this Frog Pond spray area. It is a giant shallow wading pool that was filled with kids. No one had brought any bathing suits or towels, but with the intense heat beating down on them there was no stopping the kids. They just threw off their shoes and shirts (well, the girls left their shirts on) and ran in with their clothes on. Even though they have spent countless hours this summer swimming in lakes and jumping into backyard pools, jumping around in this particular body of water fully clothed seemed to give them more thrills than if they were swimming with dolphins in a clear blue Caribbean Sea. Of course, all we mothers could see were parasites and germs floating around in what basically was a giant tub filled with children. Although they put chlorine in it every day and drain it and re-fill it every 10 days (pray we were on day 1!) it still gave us the heebie jeebies. But the kids loved it, and that's all that is important. If they get a sty in their eye, well, don't come crying to me. I told them not to put their heads under the water!

Scout Camp Happiness

Jack went to Cub Scout Camp all this week. He LOVED it beyond belief, and he also apparently is some sort of archery bulls-eye shooting savant. Tonight was the "wrap-up" event where I was painfully reminded that 1) I do not like the woods 2) I do not like dirt and 3) I do not like bugs. We sat in a giant dust ball on filthy wooden benches in front of a roaring campfire in the first real heat of the summer, while each "den" put on skits and sang songs. Abbey thought this was a good opportunity to play in the dusty dirt by my bug bitten legs. My feet were black, my clothes were trashed, but my son was happy. And dirty. Check out this picture I took of his feet when we got home, right before he was cleansed in a nice long tub.

TV Time Out

On Sunday we went to a pool party to celebrate Jack's baseball teams, ummm, winning season. When it was time to leave the kids refused to get out of the pool. You know when your kids are swimming around in a pool, and you know you can't reach them, and they know you can't reach them, it creates an impossible situation. It was made even more impossible by the fact that there were about 50 people from town all around, most of which I barely know, so I didn't want to start screaming like a mad woman and threatening to beat them senseless. I knew we were in trouble though when Dennis handed me his cell phone. "I'm going in" he said, and in his eyes I saw a furious gleam that would surely end badly. My one last attempt, including the words "your father is coming in the pool to get you and then you're really going to get it!" finally did the trick, and they came out. Because of their, shall we say NOT listening yet again, they lost t.v., video games and computer play for the rest of that day. After the initial moaning, pouting, crying and wailing (mostly from Jack) they settled down to play outside. Ride their bikes, shoot the basketball, draw with chalk. Inside we played Candyland, and before an early bed had time to read 2 full books. Today while at the trailer supply store with me and their grandfather they did the same thing. When it was time to leave they started darting around the small store, thinking it was a great game that I couldn't catch them. I threatened the "no t.v., video games and computer" time out again, and they still didn't listen. Eventually of course they did leave the store, but too late. Television gone. Again there was moaning, crying and wailing (again, mostly from Jack) but this time it only lasted about half the amount of time as before. Since we've been home we have played outside, playing a great round of H.O.R.S.E. basketball (which I won). They played nicely while I made dinner, helped me set the table, and as I type this Jack is doing his maze book while Abbey paints watercolors in her Disney Princess book. They are sitting together at the little Cabbage Patch table, as content as can be. Neither of them have even mentioned watching television. It is so nice, it almost makes me want them to get into trouble at least 3 or 4 times a week. Naw, I think we will just be turning OFF the t.v. a hell of a lot more in this house. Apparently they needed an electronic break!

Of course there is one little downfall with this time out system, and that is that I have to spend a lot more time entertaining them. So far I haven't minded, although I am already wondering what the heck I am going to do in an hour when it's time to jump on my treadmill for 30 minutes. Wish me luck.

Alien Invasion

Today has been our second afternoon in a row that we didn't have an activity. No baseball game, no taekwondo, nothing. It has also been rainy, overcast and gray, which makes for nice indoor activities. Yesterday the kids wanted to fill the house with "bad guys" to fight. Since we didn't have any bad guys lying around, they decided to make them. When Jack discovered that no, we did not have oh, 10 or 15 giant pieces of heavy cardboard that he could make bad guy cut outs out of, they settled on the long easel paper. Abbey laid down and Jack traced her, but when he was done they decided that it looked more like an alien than a bad guy. They then proceeded to spend over half an hour coloring it in and cutting it out. They decided to hang it in the doorway from the kitchen to the dining room, so that, in their words, they could "scare the heck out of daddy." I'm happy to report that it worked, he was scared. Actually, I kept forgetting it was hanging there and the rest of the night, after the kids were asleep, as I wandered around the house, grabbing myself an apple for a snack (OK, chips, whatever) I kept catching it out of the corner of my eye. Hanging there, in the dark. It was pretty creepy. This morning I moved it onto the cellar door. Abbey then made another one, to scare the pants off of Jack when he came home from school. He was slightly scared, or at least he pretended he was scared, bless his heart. He even let out a little squeal.

Another activity today while Jack was in school? Abbey dressed up as this, and declared herself "Indiana Alice" because you know, Indiana Jones meets Alice in Wonderland? Pretty clever, huh?

Dear Mom and Dad,

Check out this wonderful note Jack came home with yesterday. The last 3 weeks of school will indeed be homework free. Ahhh, music to my ears.

No more worksheets. No more sentences to write. No more number scrolls. No more finishing dinner and having to fight with him to get his homework done before he could watch t.v. Reading we can handle. It is a normal part of bedtime anyway, and it is nice to have him read instead of me sometimes. And isn't his handwriting nice and neat?

Cats Cats Cats

Where the hell have you been? is what you are probably asking me, right? 4 days with no post! Then again, probably no one really noticed that 4 days have gone by with no post. So, what's been going on? Actually, not much has been going on and a lot has been going on, if that makes any sense. Remember my post here about getting a cat, well that damn cat kept me busy. It wasn't her fault really, but she was not accustomed to living with a giant dog, and the dog was not, shall we say, thrilled to be living with a little cat, so obvious mayhem ensued. Not fun Three Stooges mayhem, just general work for me. I spent most of the last 2 weeks trying to either keep them apart or get them to know each other in an effort to lessen the torture of trying to keep them apart. After the cat was apparently "blocked" from the use of her litter box in the middle of the night by the dog she peed on Abbey's bed, twice. Luckily Abbey was spending the night on the bottom bunk in Jack's room. After that I had to make sure the cat was either shut into my bedroom (with litter box & food) or at night shut into the bathroom (with litter box and food) while she meowed her little head off. It really wasn't fair to her, or to me. I'm totally tired. So today she went to my parents house to live. I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed tight that she will bond bond bond with my nanny, keep her company and become a light in her life, so much so that my parents never want to give her back. Let's hope for that, shall we.

In other news, it was school vacation week. We didn't do too much. I did hear something random about it being "turn off the t.v. week" as well, but I just scoffed at such a thing. I wouldn't want to mess with the children's recent ironic addiction to the movie The Aristocats. I hadn't made many plans since I wasn't sure how Jack would be feeling after getting his adenoids out last Friday. I did manage to pull together a little birthday party for him yesterday with some of his friends. He invited 4 boys over for an afternoon of pizza, cupcakes and gun play. Yes, boys do like guns. I mean, they really really really like them. Politically incorrect? Probably. But they are 7 year old boys, after all. They ran around like wild animals pretending to shoot each other outside for hours. They brought each other to "jail" which consisted of a tree in the backyard. They raced on bikes down our little hill (I did make them put on helmets for that part). They gobbled food while simultaneously talking about each other's farts and boogers. They guffawed and they snorted. It was a blast for all (except maybe for Abbey, but luckily for her she had a friend over as well to lessen the sheer boy-ness of the day). Also, it was the easiest party I've ever hosted in my life. No planned activities. No games. No piniata. Just them playing together. Note to self on future birthday parties, less really IS more.

My Firstborn is 7!

Jack turned 7 today. I can't believe it. I can't believe it has been 7 years and 3 weeks since I was put on bed rest. Ahhhh, bed rest. So nice. It was most likely the last time I actually got any rest at all. I remember I was so excited to become a mother, it was something I felt like I was born to do. Unlike calculus or say, baking cakes.

Happy Birthday Baby!

I Want More Mashed Potatoes!

Jack had his adenoids out yesterday and I'll admit, I was a little freaked about the whole "going under anesthesia" part. It's hard when your kids have anything medical done to them and gives you that pitty feeling in your stomach. I was able to be in the operating room with him while they gave him the special happy gas (Dennis stayed home with Abbey), and once he was out I was off to the waiting room. It felt like a while, but in reality it was over in 15 minutes. It was such a relief when the doctor came out to tell me that everything went great and he was fine. About 20 minutes later a nurse came in to tell me that he was starting to wake up and that I could come in. He was groggy and out of it, but he kept giving me and the nurses the thumbs up sign. He really was being a little trooper and I was so proud of him. They wheeled him into this little curtained off room where he could watch a movie, but he just wanted to sleep. We had to stay for about 2 1/2 hours so they could monitor him, and then we were sent home. Just like that. By noon we were home and he was doing great. Really great, like much greater than they had said he would. I was told he would be sleepy all day, that was untrue. I was told to try to get him to have at least 5 ounces of liquid every hour to stay hydrated, but he was drinking juice like a fish. They said he could have soft foods after about 12 hours, but the second we returned home he wanted to eat the spaghettios that Abbey was having for lunch. He said he was starving. So he ate those. Then he ate some mashed potatoes. Then he had some ice cream. And Popsicles. He is supposed to be resting but he seems fine. He is YELLING for me to bring him more mashed potatoes constantly so his throat can't be that sore. I stopped giving him the Tylenol with codeine after the first dose because he says his throat feels OK. He is actually being quite demanding, lounging around on the couch yelling for mashed potatoes and Popsicles, hogging the remote. I know he just had surgery, but geez, I've seen worse recuperation from a hangnail. I think one more day of "resting" oughta do it, then he's off that damn couch.

Warning: House of Germs

Jack had the stomach bug. Now I have the stomach bug. My only hope is that the buck stops here as they say and Dennis and Abbey don't get it. Oh, I also hope that it causes me to lose 5 pounds like Jack did, but I won't hold my breath on that one. This bug has been a real bitch, in the way that Jack felt better, then worse, then better, then worse again. It came and went, so just when I thought he had kicked it, it was back. Sneaky little virus. Because of this we still went about some of our weekend plans. Easter egg hunt, having the ENTIRE family over for ham and assorted fattening casseroles. Unfortunately the next day I came down with the bug, proving once and for all that he was contagious the entire time I was forcing him and his germs onto unsuspecting relatives. I got news that my cousin's 5 year old son started throwing up this morning. So yup, we're that family. The germ giving family.

So to all of my family and everyone at the town egg hunt, I am soooooooooooooooooooooo sorry if you were infected. If it makes you feel any better, I've been puking for 3 days now. On and off of course, because you know, it's the "Come and Go" virus.

Go and See

Tonight Jack's cub scout den had their "go and see" activity. It's one of the requirements for moving on from a Tiger Cub into a Wolf Cub. His den got to go to a newspaper office to see how a paper was put together. From the time he got off of the bus though he said he wasn't feeling well. His stomach hurt and he just wanted to lay on the couch. I kind of chalked it up to carsickness. Apparently today on the bus they got to "switch" with the big kids and sit in the back of the bus while the older kids sat in the front. Jack said it was super bumpy and gave him a stomachache. He is totally prone to carsickness so I figured that was it. He said he still really wanted to go to the newspaper office though, so off we went. He was OK until we got there and he stepped out of the van and proceeded to throw up all over the sidewalk (and a little on my feet). But then he said he felt GREAT and still please please while crying all over the place couldn't we go in? Even though I knew it was a bad idea and at this point was thinking it really maybe was not carsickness I relented and in we went. Don't you hate that? That feeling with your kids that even as you are doing something that you just know you have made the wrong decision. You just keep moving ahead with the wrong decision with that knot in your gut telling you that you have made a mistake. It didn't help that this newspaper office was in a super old building that smelled like old papers and printing chemicals. As we walked up the 4,030 steps into the top of the building Jack just kept kept paler and paler. I was holding onto his jacket and had it at the ready, poised to catch throw up in it. I just kept thinking to myself "please don't throw up on the equipment. Please don't throw up on the old archived newspapers from 1914." And then there was the nagging suspicion that if this wasn't carsickness that we were at that very moment infecting 6 other little boys with some throwupy virus right before Easter weekend. After about 10 minutes which felt like 400 Jack conceded that he really didn't feel well and wanted to go home. We were down those 4,030 steps in a flash and out of there. Now he is laying on the couch with a bucket, sipping flat coke and watching television. I am thinking no school tomorrow.

On the up side, unlike my previous post, he is acting like a complete angel. A sick angel, but an angel nonetheless.

Tired and Cranky

Do you ever just dislike your children? Or one child in particular? Today Jack has really been pushing my buttons and annoying me. As soon as he got off the bus it started. He didn't want to bring the trash barrel down the driveway (which is like his only damn chore and he does it every week), whine whine whine. He didn't want to stop playing with the Star Wars people strewn all over the den to get ready for taekwondo. Whine whine whine. Then we get to taekwondo and he is obnoxious there. Not listening. Picking his nose INCESSANTLY. Why? Why must you pick Jack? It's disgusting and embarrassing and downright gross. So stop it please. Of course, I am watching from the sidelines while he just picks away and am trying to will him with my mind power to make him stop, which never works. The only saving grace was that his teacher, an extremely tough guy who is referred to as "sir" was out today, having a colonoscopy. His daughter who is equally tough and I believe on her way to the Olympics for taekwondo or something was filling in and really didn't garnish the respect usually reserved for sir himself. When we got home the whining just continued. "I'm hungry, I want cheezits" and then I had to call him 4 times to come to the table for dinner which was also annoying because he was so damn starving 20 minutes earlier, and now he's not listening to me. After dinner it was homework time and that was a nightmare as well and like pulling teeth. But Abbey was a sweetheart today of course. I've noticed that when Jack is being especially obnoxious Abbey takes that opportunity to be extra sweet. Saying "please" and "thank you." "This is a very good supper mommy" "thank you for putting my Barbie's dress on" "I love you mommy." I'm sure tomorrow she will be a pain and Jack will be angelic. Well . . . maybe not tomorrow. . . since he hasn't exactly been angelic since he was at least 4. But maybe sometime soon. But now it's bedtime and I've had enough. I am just ready for them to go to sleep and then I am just going to bed. I'm cranky and tired and annoyed. Goodnight.

Jello With A Side Of Boogers

Last night after dinner Abbey walked by Jack holding a container of jello. Her dessert. He promptly picked his nose (he claims he only "pretended") and wiped it onto her jello. Much crying and screaming ensued, ending with a brand new jello and the contaminated one in the trash. I wanted to get mad at him, I mean jello doesn't grow on trees, but it was just such a brotherly thing to do. I mean, how much more stereotypical brother antagonizing his sister behavior can there be than booger wiping? I must admit that there is the usual amount of "he hit me" "she grabbed me" "he bumped into me on purpose" and just as much "it wasn't me!" "no I didn't" and "she's lying" going on in our house, but there is also a wonderful bond that I see growing between them. They are each other's most constant companion, playmate and Saturday morning cartoon watching partner. I love that with a 2 1/2 year age difference that there is fighting, but that they are also able to play together, especially now that Abbey is older. They can play real games now, and I appreciate the burden it takes off of me to be the constant entertainer. True, it's a trade off, as I have turned into the constant referee instead, but it's worth it. They may fight, but in the end I know that they have each other's backs. Even last night after the booger wiping incident, while laying in bed reading a "Jack and Annie" book ("Jack and Abbey" in our house) there was a picture of Annie in a prairie dress. "What a pretty dress" Abbey exclaimed. Jack answered her "it is pretty, but your dresses are prettier and you look really pretty in them." Now isn't that nice?

About Mommy

This is a cute idea I got from a Facebook post that I figured I would do, since we are home today enjoying our 548th snow day of the year. The idea is to ask your child questions about YOU and see what is going on inside those adorable little heads of theirs. I decided to ask Jack (age almost 7), since Abbey is currently in the tub. First I had to convince him to pause his gameboy long enough to give me his answers. This was of course no easy task.

1. What is something mom always says to you? No

2. What makes mom happy? Us not bothering you

3. What makes mom sad? When our house got destroyed (that was quite sad)

4. How does your mom make you laugh? Tickling me

5. What was your mom like as a child? Not as lucky as I am

6. How old is your mom? 57 (OMG!!!!)

7. How tall is your mom? About 6

8. What is her favorite thing to do? Watch General Hospital (which I hardly EVER get a chance to watch by the way!)

9. What does your mom do when you're not around? Go to work

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? Living in Chicago

11. What is your mom really good at? Helping us

12. What is your mom not very good at? Flying a plane

13. What does your mom do for her job? Sit in an office

14. What is your mom's favorite food? Chicken

15. What makes you proud of your mom? When you do something cool

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? Yogi Bear

17. What do you and your mom do together? Play

18. How are you and your mom the same? We both love each other

19. How are you and your mom different? You like to go on the computer and I like to watch t.v.

20. How do you know your mom loves you? Because before I go to bed you kiss me

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? Swanzey Lake

Well, there you go. Now that Abbey (age 4) is out of the tub I will ask her and see what she says. Hopefully she doesn't think I am in my fifties!

1. What is something mom always says to you? I love you

2. What makes mom happy? Going on your treadmill

3. What makes mom sad? When I take away your blankets

4. How does your mom make you laugh? You tickle me

5. What was your mom like as a child? You liked to play with your mommy

6. How old is your mom? 14 (that's my girl)

7. How tall is your mom? 12

8. What is her favorite thing to do? Play Barbies with me

9. What does your mom do when you're not around? Wash the dishes

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? You would know all the questions I told you

11. What is your mom really good at? Drawing

12. What is your mom not very good at? Playing stuff

13. What does your mom do for her job? Draw stuff on paper and put it in a book

14. What is your mom's favorite food? Green pointy beans (I think she's talking about snap peas)

15. What makes you proud of your mom? I'm proud that you're really good at drawing

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? A mama bear

17. What do you and your mom do together? Snuggle in bed

18. How are you and your mom the same? Our eyes are the same color

19. How are you and your mom different? Your ears are bigger than mine

20. How do you know your mom loves you? Because you just love me (very true)

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? Disneyworld

Well, I have to tell you, Abbey was way more thoughtful with her answers, and they were much more accurate, except about that whole drawing thing. I am a little worried that Jack answered "No" to question number 1, while Abbey answered "I love you." Hmmmm, are they living in the same house?