I'll scratch your back, if you'll scratch mine

My friend Katie and I have begun kid swapping. We started this after we watched each others kids a few afternoons to get some errands done. I finally said to her,

"Hey, why the hell aren't we doing this once a week?"

So, the birth of "Kid Swapping".

I LOVE it!! Who wouldn't? I have 2 free hours a week for anything. The best part is, it's free and guilt free since I then watch her son.

These past few weeks, all I've done is accumulate supplies for my yard. Overall, I have worked a total of 8 hours doing yard work during naptime. It is finally looking pretty nice. I have a few more things I'd like to do, but the maintenance alone will keep me busy all summer when the kids aren't.

Imaginations Gone Wild

Last week, my lovely daughter told me that she was going to run away. I was changing her diaper, and she looks at me and says

"Mom (yes Mom), I onna run way."

"Your going to run away?" I asked

"Yep Mom, run..aaaaway" and she points her finger towards the door.

"Where are you going?" I asked

"I, I , I live at store!"

I decide to inquire further.

"What will you eat and drink at the store?"

Without hesitation, " I eat Thai food, and drink coffee" she replies

"And who will change your diaper and give you a bath?"

With a big smile, "Katie will change a diaper" (she's our good friend).



After lunch today, Vaughn and I were talking about Daddy.

"Vaughn, what is Daddy?" (they usually reply"A Man")

"Daddy a bird"

"Daddy is a bird?What color is Daddy?"

"green, yeah a green bird. He fly away, to far (reaching to the ceiling) to high, can't reach 'em"

"And Mommy is...?"

"A yellow...bunny rabbit"

"What are you?"

"A green bird, no... a bunny rabbit bird" I guess her understands the blending of DNA.

"You are a bunny rabbit bird?"

"Oh" ("Oh", means "yes" to Vaughn, it's an Italian thing I think)

"What is Avery then?"

"Avey a red (her favorite color) bunny rabbit too."

It is so funny to watch how much they imagine every day. I've learned a votive candle can be a baby's bottle, a fig bar bitten a certain way can become a boot for your finger. Spitting water from your mouth makes you an elephant, and a dust bunny from under the couch is a mouse.

Facebook

I created an account a while ago, but never really got into it. I haven't got a ton of time to spare. It's not easy keeping up with the kids, the house, the yard, paying bills, making meals, my blog, and Facebook all at once. Since my friends list is growing, I can't help but run down to the computer and sign in. My lovely sister- in- law did warn me about how addictive it is. I still limit the amount of time I am logged in and try not to invest precious moments typing and searching away.


It is so much fun to find people I haven't seen in years. I am happy to see that most are doing well, and seem happy.


How many of you are addicted????















Haven't worked out since Tuesday. Yasmin is making me feel funky, but it's better than another set of twins.

???? on the lbs. I'll come bake up to speed, and have some courage to weigh myself again.

Spring is Paradise

I am really enjoying the weather these past few days! There is nothing like opening the windows to let the nice clean breeze in, and flush out the stale winter air.


All the different sounds of the birds are glorious and the small sprigs of green on the tree branches really promises that spring is finally here.


Waking up before 7am is no big deal, now that the sun is up, and we can spend the day playing and exploring the newness of spring. It is so much fun to watch the kids become so exited by what we have taken for granted for so long. Birds flying overhead, all the little flowers blooming, worms on the sidewalk, ant hills in the dirt.


I think of the sentence in the chorus of Paradise by the BoDeans:


Paradise, it aint hard to find, lookin' out your window at the world outside.


Spending hours outside is wonderful! I love digging in the sand and rolling in the grass. We have already gone through a bucket of sidewalk chalk since Easter.


What is your favorite outdoor activity??

The North Face Nation

I went to a Black Hawks game on Sunday with my friends. As we arrived to the United Center, I realized that ONE out of THREE people were wearing The North Face jacket of some kind. As we drove to the parking lot, there was just a sea of people with the white lettering on their right shoulder. There were less people wearing hockey jerseys. I have had the conversation before with ...someone, but I never saw so many of the same brand of jacket in such a small area. I guess it's the label right? I have a Colombia fleece jacket that's really nice, and I only spent $30 (at Nordstrom Rack) as opposed to close to $150.


Of course I made a comment to the girls who both had their North Face jackets on. To make it worse, I had also pointed out that most of the women and girls wearing the North Face jackets. were also wearing Ugg's. I looked at both of their feet as we got out of the car, and they two were wearing Ugg's.



What's the big deal? I know it sounds funny from someone who love designer jeans, but I love them because of the way they fit. Is there something I am missing with these jackets?



The issue is not money, it's the very specific brand. Why does everyone have one?





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3.5 miles today

The Terrific Two's Emerging

How sweet they look!!!!

Yes, they are beginning to morph into screaming, hitting, pushing, defiant children. I knew it would happen. I used to be in a room filled with 10 of them. The quietest, most gentle kids seemed to be the ones who really start to act out. I guess they make up for lost time.




Vaughn has quickly found his independence, and finds that if he pushes and hits anyone, he gets a reaction one way or another. Rick and I really try not to react, and just tell him over and over again "we don't push one another", and "it's not nice to hit!" He repeats "no pushing, no hitting", walks up and smacks me in the face. We redirect, give him a ball to push and tell him, "push the ball". We have started to remove him from the room, and put him in the corner. He stands there willingly, and says "manners, not nice...corner" It's hard not to laugh, but we keep our composure.



Avery is actually manageable right now. She is spirited, and will sometimes hit or push, but when we discipline her, she crumbles. She buries her face in my lap, or falls to the ground in a fetal position. It's pretty funny too.



Meal times are especially fun when slices of apples are chucked at you. Vaughn loves to throw anything, and put his feet on the table. I know it's just a matter of ignoring behaviors, and staying calm, but some days it's really hard. If we remind him of using good manners, he says "yes, manners", laughs, takes a big sip of milk and spits it all over the place. ARGHHHHH!!!!!!! Avery is not that extreme since food is worth it's weight in gold to her. She will almost never intentionally throw food on the floor. She does, however , put her feet on the table, and scream.



I WON'T call them terrible though. They are smart kids, and are just trying to find out where the limits are. They challenge us more every day, but make us laugh just as much. It's all a phase, and if handled the right way, will pass quickly. I just really hope they do not become the kind of kids who people talk about in a negative way, like they talk about Rick or my cousin Chuck. I'll often hear, "Wow, Richie was quite a kid!!! I hope they don't act that way" Thankfully, both turned out to be wonderful caring adults.



I am looking forward to summer, when they can expel a lot of energy. Most the time, kids act out when they have an over abundance of energy, no structure, and overtired. Thankfully, I am very structured, and they get plenty of sleep.




Spring where are you!!!!!!!!!!!









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ran 3.5 miles today

Update

Very quickly, I'm updating my progress. I started bringing the kids to the community center twice a week so I can work out. The regular teacher is in love with both V and A and is very good with them, although, they do cry for a bout 5 minutes after I leave. When I peak in after my run, they are happily playing with Mrs. Liz. They have so much fun, they don't wan to leave.



Today I ran 3.2 miles easily. Every week, I'll try to get a bit faster since I'd like to run some races this year. I'm not concerned about time right now. I just want to go the distance (maybe more) and speed up from there on in. I do feel so much better already. It's nice to drop the kids off, plug in and tune out.


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