Fall Kickoff

The leaves are turning, the night air has a distinct chill, and the kids are too snug every morning to wake up for school - it's officially fall!  Our weekends have been jam-packed so far with soccer, block parties, pumpkin patches, food festivals, and, of course, the restart of birthday party season.  Where to begin?  I guess from the beginning!

Little help here??

Our first fall event was a mid-September / end of summer event - a BBQ at my sister's house.  The weather was perfect and the food was good.  We cracked a few Oktoberfests and let the kids run around the yard with her dog and basically get attention from every direction while we relaxed.  The Lobster Roll munched on snacky foods and Gobbles attempted to dictate the instructions on how to put together the ladder ball set. 



Mmmm. Don't forget I love Cheetos now too!

So you put this in here, and hmmm... Are these words upside down?

Evil Smile!

The next weekend went unplanned until a few days prior, when a neighbor sent out an email about doing pizza in the cul de sac on Saturday night.  After finding out some of Gobbles' neighborhood pals would be there, we baked up some pumpkin shortbread bars and decided we'd be in.  It was a good night to be in, considering about 60 other people could make it too, and it turned into a hell of a block party.  That is, until it got dark. 

Gobbles spent the night playing in the common neighborhood "fort" in the woods with the other kids, riding his bike around the street, sampling goodies, and watching a movie.  The Lobster, a bit clingy as she is with the neighbors, spent the early evening chatting with another little girl, showing off her princess camping chair, and also sampling goodies.  When the sun set, one of the neighbors brought out a speaker and hooked his ipod up, playing fun music.  The Lobster started loosening up and dancing all around in the street. 

Earlier that day, I had done the drawer swap to put in her new fall clothes and pull out anything that didn't fit.  Apparently I was overzealous in thinking all of the 24 month pants would fit, because some were a little loose.  While she was dancing, I went to pull up her pants, and she took a faceplant right on the concrete.  The Lobster Roll began wailing and we brought her inside to clean her up.  Hubs decided with the blood and the gashes smack on her nose that it'd be good to go to the ER.  I was half frazzled with guilt, half upset for my poor baby's nose, and half buzzed, so hubs took her and I stayed behind with Gobbles, who was oblivious to the whole situation still having fun with his friends.

The neighbors assured me everything would be ok, and I knew it would, but I couldn't help but shed a few tears out of pure guilt - after all, I caused her to tip over!  They lightened the mood while I waited to hear from hubs by telling me about previous block party / christmas party incidents in the neighborhood - one kid broke a wrist, another needed stitches, another broke a collarbone!  I suppose it was just a right of passage into the group in a twisted way. 

I heard from hubs rather quickly that he was on his way back.  Prognosis - it would have been a broken nose had the Lobster possessed the bones to break, but since they weren't formed yet, it was just some smashed cartilage.  With the nasal passages and septum clear, the doctor said insurance wouldn't cover plastic surgery.  Because, you know, we'd definitely consider it for the sake of vanity!?!  As of now, the skin has healed and I am the only one who can see the bump.  We joke that now she'll have her Daddy's nose instead of mine, that's all.

Baby's first ER trip.  A full year older than her brother for his.

Well I can see the bump too in this picture, but this is only 12 hours post incident!

Nothing can bring me down though - I don't even notice!

I told all my teachers at school - Nose HURTS!

But that was for a day - all better by the end of the week!

Suddenly, it was October, and our calendar was jam-packed.  We realized the only day to make it to Linvilla Orchards would be the first weekend, which happened to be 80 degrees.  The kids didn't seem to mind the heat, so along with my sister and brother-in-law we fed the animals, rode the train, played among the pumpkins and stuffed our faces full of funnel cake.  We even took a hayride to the witches' house with the sun beating down on us. 

When we thought the day was ending, Gobbles suddenly wanted to do the apple slingshot (which I'd been encouraging him to try all day - it just looked like so much fun)!  The concept seems appalling thinking what a waste of apples this is, but apparently these are ones that have fallen from the trees and cannot be eaten.  I'm glad the kids tried it out because Gobbles said it was the most fun he had all day, probably because it was something new and he got to send things flying through the air- a typical boy.  By the time we left both kids were so exhausted we didn't even buy pumpkins to take home.  With the heat they probably wouldn't survive until Halloween anyway, so it'll be grocery store pumpkins this year, kids...

We're posing in front of the train tracks because we cannot WAIT for it to get started!

I AM the great pumpkin!

Mommy I'm just a sweetie, aren't I?

YUM GOAT!

We prefer to sit on a bench instead of the hay, thankyouverymuch!

I will only smile with Mommy's glasses on!

Bailin Bailin HAY HAY!

C'mon Daddy, I'll help you!

This apple went about 4 feet, but the Lobster cheered as if it hit a target...

Look at that form!

Lazy boy stroller thief!

The next day, still riding high on the warm weather, we headed off to a birthday party of one of Gobble's classmates.  This little girl was his first classmate party last year and was now turning 4.  Since the party, we've gotten three more invites.  For some reason I thought everyone would be taking the year off, and I'm wavering as to whether I should plan a classmate party for Gobbles again.  Oh too much to think about!

This party was at a local park, with  a Little Mermaid & Pirate theme.  Younger siblings were welcome, as this girl and a lot of Gobbles' classmates have lil ones the Lobster's age.  I really wish I had planned a little better and had my kids' birthdays in the warm months, because this really is the way to go.  We watched the kids run themselves ragged on the playground before having a picnic lunch, playing bean bag toss, smacking a pinata, having photo ops, and, of course, eating cake.  It was a great afternoon.

Mommy - why don't you have the artistic ability of this mom??

I'll get you mermaid!

Yay!  She's blowing out the candles! Like my eyepatch?

I'll just hold onto the party favors on the way home.

This past weekend, we had another birthday party, this time with Gobbles new neighbor pal, C, also turning 4.  C is the youngest of three kids, and his parents (like most of the neighborhood families) are around 40.  Their parenting wisdom in everything from planning the party to execution was evident and really opened my eyes to the "not sweating the small stuff".  A few weeks ago, C's mom mentioned to me that his party was going to be on this date, she'll get an evite out.  Her email and the evite came out the week before letting us know she'd be taking a few of the kids and a parent to the nearby farm for hayrides, pumpkin patching, etc, then the rest of the families would meet back at their place for party and cake. 

The day before the party, the farm cancelled due to impending weather.  No worries from C's mom  - they'll just do food and cake as planned.  We got to their house and Gobbles disappeared with the kids, our hosts handed us beer and wine and directed us to the table of apps, of which the Lobster gladly took part.  They had set up apple bobbing, craft activities, cookie decorating, and a few more indoor activities to entertain the kids.  Guests included a few neighborhood families as well as some friends and family members of the hosts.  C's older sister and her friends helped out with the games and entertainment, and I got a glimpse of how the other side lives.  I'm always so stressed out when it comes to throwing the perfect party for my kids, and worried about what the other kids' parents (those I don't know very well) think of me.  C's mom made everything seem so easy, we were laid back and comfortable just chit chatting and letting the kids do their thing.  I had such a nice time at this party, and I hope I can ease stressing over little things as my kids get older.

The next day, as tired as the kids were, hubs and I convinced them to go to the Chili Cookoff as part of hubs' birthday weekend (we baked him cupcakes on Friday, for his birthday the previous Tuesday - whoo hoo celebration).  Hubs told them it was a funfair because he read there was a moon bounce there.  That was enough to convince Gobbles.  We got there and started to regret our decision a little bit.  It was packed!  Wall to wall chili fans all scouring for a taste.  Next year, no stroller!  We found a place to stand while hubs did the running for the chili.  At first, the kids were hesitant.  After a few prompts, the Lobster was hooked (Gobbles continued his protest and had some fruit snacks instead).  The Lobster however, couldn't get enough.  More please! More Chili!  She kept asking.  If she caught a bean she'd spit it out and keep going, so we came up with a system.  I'd eat the beans, she'd eat the rest.  It worked out pretty well, and we left fat and happy, after a half hour stop at the mounbounce stuff for Gobbles, of course!

 

I detect a note of coriander...

Hey lady back there in the socks and sandels - I SEE you!

Oh the cornbread topping on this one is just de-light-ful!

Why I would be a terrible single mom. AKA when hubs is not around I am a parenting FAIL

I'm tired.  I always knew when marrying an accountant that there would be some kind of "busy season" because really, that's just what they do.  When hubs worked in public back in 2004 (and before he was hubs), I remember doing what I wanted after work - happy hour or the gym, then coming home to our empty apartment and thinking, man I'm bored.  I found myself deeply enthralled with Season 3 of American Idol (you know, the one with Jennifer Hudson) and a contestant names Jon Paul Lewis.  Why?  I'm not really sure, but he was my replacement boyfriend for January thru April while hubs worked ungodly hours.  That's the last time I remember being this frustrated with hubs' work, until now.

Not being in "public" since 2005, hubs doesn't have the April 15 tax deadline.  Instead, he has quarterly closes and corporate deadlines.  So I should expect about two weeks of terrible hours every February, May, August, November for quarterly as well as September and October for states and corps.  Or something like that.  We're now in March, and for some reason I'm still coming home with two kids, letting the dogs out, cooking dinner, bathing them, and putting them to bed all by myself (now I need to confess - I started this post last week.  hubs has made it home for dinner the past two nights).

So yea, I'm tired.  And now back to the point of this post- as each day wore on I was starting to lose my mind - I don't know how people do it.  Last week, while cooking dinner, I set the kids up in the family room to play and watch TV then ran back to the stove to stir the pot of noodles that was cooking.  Within two seconds I hear a crash followed by crying.  I look over to see the Lobster Roll laying on the floor next to a tipped over chair.  I scooped her up just to get blood all over myself from her bleeding tongue.  After a few frantic phone calls, an ice pack, and some shushing and calming, I got her to settle and the blood to stop.  But then of course she screamed as she tried to eat dinner because well, it hurt.  Fail.

The other day, as I was putting the kids to bed, I felt an itch on my back and reached back to scratch.  My hand returned with a deer tick, still alive and kind of pissed off looking that I'd pulled it off of it's new latch.  I FREAKED out and flushed it down the toilet, then had to calm Gobbles into thinking it was nothing and that he should go to bed.  See, every day when I get home and hubs isn't there, I open the garage and let the dogs out through there while I unload the kids (or, in the case of bad weather, I leave them in the running car in the driveway while I let the pups do their thing).  Gobbles then heads into the yard to round up the puppies and I follow behind with the Lobster Roll in 1 arm trying to shoo the dogs back inside with the other.  Nine times out of ten, our beloved Spoonsie bear, who ignores all instances of electric fence, is in the woods behind our yard, and I try to lure her out.  All with the baby on my arm because though she is walking, she is not limber enough to walk across at the pace I'm chasing the dogs.  Each night I curse myself for thinking we needed an acre of land without dogs of stellar obedience. (Even if we had a fence they still would never listen and come to the door!) I know that's where I picked up the tick, which very well could have landed on my baby girl.  Fail.

Let's not even talk about the play doh that the Lobster's managed to slip while I'm trying to roll the perfect snake for Gobbles, or the time she drank the dog's water out of the bowl, or the smearing of spaghetti sauce in her hair because I asked her to point to her head while her hands elbow deep in dinner.  Fail. Fail. Fail.

Ok, I know I'm exaggerating when I call these all failures, because really, I know I'm a good mom (if only the director at school hadn't been sitting RIGHT there when I sat the Lobster ON the table only for her to nose-dive off...).  It is just so much easier when hubs is around - an extra set of hands to play with the kids while I let the dogs out- or even someone to just take the dogs out for me, an extra set of arms for hugs when both kids are in need- though I still maintain I have room in my arms for a third and the two do fit fine, an extra lap when it hurts me to have them sit in it from the bruised tailbone given to me when a 35lb three year old hopped in unexpectedly - another story completely.  Most importantly, I need the emotional support hubs gives and the level-headedness he maintains when my voice starts to rise out of frustration.  He's always there to dial me back, or hear me out, so that I don't express my impatience with the kids doing normal kid things.

I must say though that my after work Mommy and stay at home Mommy personas are much different.  Since we pulled the kids out of school on Fridays and I've been home with them, I've filled our time with playdates and swim lessons and the three of us have found it quite enjoyable.  Sure the kids miss their Daddy, as do I, but it's really at night, dinnertime and bedtime when we fall apart without him.  So here's to things are looking up as busy season eases and the weather gets warmer, and my only looming issue is now when the heck to I clean the house?

Yep, who knew how much blood could come from one little cut?

A freeze pop will ease the pain...

Of course, we don't want to forget our regular dinner too, I'll just keep numbing my mouth until I eat enough for you mommy!

Seriously?  Now you're letting me sit up in this chair the wrong way?

I know, brushing my teeth will SURELY make my tongue feel better... not.

Back to the scene of the crime. 

Yea, this is probably how the fall happened in the first place. 

Oh don't worry mom, i hear doggies' mouths are clean...

Watch out for that Gobbles behind you!

Like I said, clean?  No worries that my thumb will go right back in my mouth...

Ok, one dog licking a child, another child body slamming the other dog.  All while mommy just throws up her hands and pulls out her camera.

Well looks like we're all ok....

If four are brave enough to stroll out in broad daylight, how many tick-carrying bambis are back there?

Oh, it's ok, just let the dog sleep on the clean laundry after running around the yard.

Don't worry mom!  When all else fails just give us a box of animal crackers which we can finish in under 3 minutes flat!

So I just hit the publish button yesterday on gobbles three year letter, which contained tidbits of his imagination from happenings many weeks ago.  I think we figured out last night that though yes, he does have a creative mind, it may be influenced by his ridiculous power of observation and inference morese than where does he come up with this stuff.

As we were getting dinner together, feeding the lil lobster roll (she's on a cereal kick this week bc she's cutting an entire grill up top), and bugging gobbles to come sit at the table while he was playing in the family room, the following conversation happened:

Me: So it was the wierdest think when I got home, I was outside with the dogs and the lobster and I heard all these sirens, and these wierd popping sounds in the distance, like firecrackers but not, maybe like gunshots- what do they sound like far away?
(cue 5 minute convo on sounds of gunshots and echos and movies vs real life)
Hubs: (concluding): they probably were not gunshots
Me: well anyway it freaked me out and the dogs were acting wierd, so I just thought what would I do of someone was at the shopping center then was coming through the woods and I decided I'd run off the wall and hide down there with the baby.
Hubs: What wall?
Me: The little retaining wall by the swingset. But then I thought I'd have to come in and get Gobbles so I'd rush back in, lock the door from the sunporch to give us some extra seconds, then run out the front door and down the lawn.
Hubs: You are nuts, you know that, right?
Me: I know, but it was a lot of sirens I heard on the pike, my mind just went wild.
Gobbles: (wandering into the room and crawling into my lap at the dinner table) What man is coming thru the woods? Why is the man coming through the woods? We have to run out the front door?
Me and hubs: (oh shit!  plus a LOOK from hubs) No, no of course not! (cue long drawn out explanation on imagination vs reality)

15 minutes and 5 topics later, after reading the kids' daily reports from school and discussing other calm topics, I caught Gobbles looking down the darkened hall off the kitchen tentatively.
Me: whatcha lookin at buddy?
Gobbles: there's nobody coming to get us?
Hubs just looks at me. Way to go.

Parenting FAIL.

Tonight's lesson- even when the kids look ad act preoccupied, they are always, ALWAYS listening. CRAP.

By the way, this conversation isn't verbatum - apparently I use like as my filler word, and Gobbles has picked up on that.  Every other sentence out of his mouth is like this or like that.  How in the world do I get him to stop when I don't even realize I do it!

Nothing will get by me Momma, my salamander and I are ready to take on the world!  One scary guy at a time!