Happy Birthday Daddy!

Scenes from the Snow

Snow Day!

Much to our surprise, the weathermen were actually correct and we awoke this morning to find a nice coating of snow (and ice!) covering the ground.  It wasn't much - about an inch and a half or so - but still enough to have some fun!


All dressed and ready to go outside:

















At first, both Ella and Aidan just froze in place, not sure what to do:

















We headed over to join our neighbor "Uncle Ian" and the kids took their first solo sled rides:

We took a winter walk:

It was a wonderful, wonderful day spent outside in our winter wonderland!

Will it Snow?

We don't know if it will actually snow outside, but it "snowed" inside the house tonight!  

A package came in the mail that was filled with packing peanuts (i.e. snow!).  Mike thought it would be great fun for the kids (and would get them excited about the snow promised by the weathermen) to dump it all on the floor and let them play.

As it turns out the ratio of play time vs. clean up time is not one that falls into the favor of the resident maid.

Even the horse was required to eat some snow!

Flashforward Friday - The Future's So Bright....

Yesterday we had our first real Parent-Teacher Conference at Ella and Aidan's preschool.  It seems so surreal to me that we actually have children old enough to be partaking in such an event, but nonetheless, they cannot stay babies forever!  

The conference went really well - granted, how much can they really have to say about two-year olds? 

Both Ella and Aidan received lots of praise.  They are the youngest kids in the class - everyone except for one little girl has already turned three during this school year.  Their teacher told us that they may be younger, but they are both ahead of many of the other students in knowing and correctly identifying all of their colors and shapes, knowing the albabet and correctly identifying all of the letters, counting to 20, and knowing (and spelling!) their own names.

They will be attending three days a week next year - hopefully Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Kindergarten will be here before we know it!

The weather was a wonderful 60 degrees when we got home from school, so we played outside for a little while before naps.  

The future's so bright....we gotta wear shades!!

Memo to My Bosses

M E M O R A N D U M

To: My beloved employers

• Aidan, CEO of Crying For No Reason, COO of the Department of Extremely Out of Control Energy, and President of Whiners Everywhere

• Ella, Manager of Being Overly Demanding, Vice President of Screaming Loudly and Director of Hoarding Toys That Are Not Hers

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First, let me start this memo off by saying how wonderful it has been working for you both. When I was hired for the position of "Mother", I truly underestimated just how fulfilling and rewarding the job would be - each day is full of wonderful new adventures!

There are some things; however, that I would like to address with you and I feel now is as good a time as any. I mean, it's not like you could fire me.....right?

Hours

When I was initially hired, I understood the position called for 24-hour shifts. I had no problem with that. It was a new job for me...one that I had never done before and I welcomed the hours with open arms. However, I feel as though I have been taken advantage of for quite some time now. It was conveniently never mentioned that the 24-hour shifts would be never-ending. I'm being paged at odd hours almost every single night (like 3:15 am) and I'm expected to work overtime quite frequently (although is there such a thing as overtime when I'm already working 24-hr shifts?).

As a result, I would like to propose a change in my hours. I would really appreciate not being expected to clock in any earlier than 7:00 am and I'd like to complete my work day by at least 8:00 pm, if not earlier. I'd also like to only be on-call at night for emergencies, like when you have a nightmare in the middle of the night or if you wet your bed. Requesting more water, to blow your nose, to chat about what Opa and Grandma Shushi are doing, if Grandaddy likes bananas, where Mema is, to read The Very Hungry Caterpillar just one more time, or to just say "Hi" are not actual emergencies and I am quite certain that they can wait until morning.

Benefits

This falls right in line with my hours (see above). I would like to be able to take personal days here and there, as needed. Of course, I would give you advance notice so you could find a temporary replacement (might I suggest your father, who is perfectly capable of filling in for me).

Along these lines, you are no longer allowed to cry, whine and scream to me "Mommy, I want you...." as I'm running out the door. Guilt trips will no longer be acceptable.

Don't most employees at least get (by law) a lunch break and some sort of break per XX hours worked? I could call a professional to research this further, but I really do not think any of us want to get lawyers involved. That said, I would appreciate daily 15-minute meal breaks and 5-minute potty breaks for every 4 hours that I work. I think that's very reasonable.

Furthermore, I will finally be taking sick days, as needed. Nothing excessive, but if I should come down with a blinding migraine (that, chances are, you caused...and I say that with all due respect of course), I'd like to know that I won't have the added pressure of having to work that day. Again, your father is a willing and able substitute in my absence (he may not be aware that he's willing and able but, trust me, he is).

Although this is not a paid position, it would be nice every so often to receive a gift certificate from you for a massage or a mani/pedi (just to show your appreciation of all my hard work - hint hint!).

Responsibilities

While the exact job responsibilities were never really clearly discussed in detail, I did have a general idea of what the position would entail. With that said, as time has gone by, I feel like I'm not able to give my full attention and devotion to other aspects of my job (such as cleaning and basic laundry) because I simply have so much extra "stuff" on my plate on a daily basis.

The following is a list of jobs I will no longer be doing:

• Running around like a chicken with my head cut off at meal times fetching "this and that" for you so often that I never actually get a chance to actually sit down and eat
• Providing constant and never ending entertainment, so much so that I am unable to leave your presence long enough to put a simple load of laundry away
• Breaking up fights 24 hours a day (one can only say "use your words" and "we don't hit" so many times before she is deemed legally insane)
• Struggling with you to brush your teeth twice a day (if your teeth rot and fall out, you'll just have to drink all of your food through a straw)
• Cleaning up all of the toys that you take out but never seem to put away (I'm no longer buying the excuse, "But I don't know how/where to put it away"

Right to Privacy

This is something I feel very strongly about and I feel that it's gone on for way too long. I am now requiring total and complete privacy when I'm in the bathroom (that includes going potty, taking a shower, getting dressed, etc). No employee should ever have to sit there while the bosses ogle her asking "Mommy, What are you doing now?" over and over again as she uses the bathroom.

From now on, you are no longer allowed to enter the bathroom when I'm in it. No more sticking your hands under the door and yelling, "How many fingers can you see now?" over and over again, or banging on the door repeatedly with the hopes that I will eventually cave and let you in, or beating each other up outside the door with the expectation that I will be able to hold it long enough to break up the fight.

I hope you know that, even with all my faults, I try my best to be the most wonderful employee the world has ever known. I am 100% committed to keeping our company afloat and helping it to be successful. After all, any employee who says "yeah, that sounds like fun" when her bosses want to make spaghetti noodles from playdoh is more than dedicated....a little insane, even.

In closing, I would like to thank you for the wonderful learning opportunity you have provided me with over the past two and a half years. While I'm sometimes guilty of making mistakes and not performing tasks to the best of my abilities, I appreciate that you have continued to encourage me with your never-ending smiles, hugs and kisses.

Someday when you are both grown up and married, I hope to be promoted to the coveted position of "grandmother".

Sincerely,

Your dedicated, hard-working employee (aka - Mommy)

Wordless Wednesday

Hide And Seek

Both Aidan and Ella know just how to play Hide and Seek.

They both will cover their eyes and count to 10 while the other will run and hide somewhere in the house. Neither is very good at staying hidden - they both tend to come running shouting "Here I am!" when they hear the number 10.

Until yesterday.

Apparently, Ella has finally figured out the fun in staying hidden.

We were getting ready to go run a few errands and could not find Ella anywhere. Finally, I followed the giggles...yes, she has figured out how to stay hidden, just not how to keep from giving her hiding place away!

She had dumped all of the dress up clothes out of their "treasure chest" (as they call it) and climbed inside. Although he would not claim to have been in on it, someone (i.e. Aidan) had to have placed the top on the treasure chest and I know it was not myself or Mike!

I do have to say, she is the best thing I ever found in any treasure box!

It's Raining Outside - And Inside!

We stayed in our PJ's all day today - it was rainy and yucky outside so we were indoors finding new ways to entertain ourselves.

Ella and Aidan LOVE to play in the kitchen sink with the faucet and water.

Today, shark and whale joined us for a "bath".

What could be better after getting soaking wet at the sink? A banana, of course!

Picnic in the Park

While today is rainy and cold, the past few days have been absolutely gorgeous outside!

We have spent as much time as possible enjoying the warmer weather and sunshine and yesterday morning was no exception. After a quick run to Target and to take Aidan for a haircut, we met our friends for a picnic lunch!

Ginny, Lizzy and Preston met us at our neighborhood park to eat and then play for a little while. The kids were all wound up and super excited so Sara and I really didn't get the chance to talk (much less eat) - but it was still fun to be outside enjoying the nice weather with good friends!

The kids decided to eat on the ground - in true picnic style - rather than at the picnic tables!

Playtime!

PS - We MISS you Juliane, Patrick & Finnegan. We cannot wait until your new little man makes his debut and we can get our regular playdates going again! Get your rest and know that we all love you dearly!

Wordless Wednesday

Smoovies!

Late last summer, my Mother-in-Law told me that she was searching for an item for her Mother - something called a Magic Bullet. She very quietly asked me if I knew what sort of store one would purchase such an item from. I knew exactly what she was thinking, so I giggled to myself and told her how much I have been wanting one as well and how I watch the infomercials all of the time. This actually was true - I have coveted the Magic Bullet for ages.

The look on her face was priceless as I finally let her off the hook and explained that it was actually a mini-blender type of kitchen appliance.

Needless to say, she marched herself to Bed Bath & Beyond and got one for both her mother and myself - I was thrilled!! However, I am embarassed to admit that for some reason I have not managed to actually use it - until today!

I cannot believe that I waited this long to use it - what was I waiting for? I am now hooked and cannot wait to use it for all sorts of other things!

Anyway, we celebrated the warm spring-like weather this afternoon with strawberry-banana smoothies. Well, "smoovies" according to the resident two-year old drinkers.

As you can see, the "smoovies" were an instant hit! The first batch was gone in minutes, so I made a second batch and we enjoyed them on the front porch before heading down to the neighborhood park.

Puddle Jumping

Mike is working today and I am sick with the cold that the kiddos both had last week. They are both better now, but I am dragging.

After a rainy night and drizzly morning, the rain finally stopped and I decided that since the temperature was so warm, we would go puddle jumping!

Ella and Aidan were thrilled to actually use their new raincoats and hats from Aunt Mimi for something other than dress-up.

They both had such fun stomping in puddles....

....trekking through mud....

....and discovering things found in nature - especially one poor worm!

I even managed to capture a pretty cute "posed" picture!