Birthday Parties

It's getting to be the time of year that I start planning birthday parties at our house. June is a busy month for birthdays at our house. Both my parents and my father-in-law have birthdays in early June and then mid-June brings Wyeth and Ella's birthdays.
From year to year I change my mind about how much time, energy, and cost should be put into the kids' parties. I polled my favorite mommy friends and asked advice from anyone and everyone. And after all that, I am not still not sure what to do. I am just looking to have a birthday plan for the years to come. Not to be set in stone, but just traditions that keep things fair and fun for the babes.
I want family to be an important focus for the kiddos. So, I think we will have a family dinner of the birthday honorees choice that includes any family. And then the kiddos are welcome to also host a friend party as their gift from us if they wish. This year Ella's birthday falls on a Saturday, so we will probably celebrate her birthday with just one party, and include her little friends? She isn't old enough to really care.
Wyeth on the other hand wants several parties. He will be five and friend parties are becoming quite important to him. Unfortunately the venue of his choice is closing in June and his second choice of the moment is our house. I would rather have a party at a park somewhere. As of right now, he wants to have a Clone Wars party. Ella wants a My Little Pony party, and who knows what is going on in Farfar's little bean.

QOTD

"When you have a baby your glass breaks." Wyeth announced to his sisters during breakfast.
"Why does the glass break?" I wondered, not understanding the context of the conversation.
"When it is time for the baby to come the mama's glass breaks." Wyeth repeated, seeming frustrated that he would have to explain this to a mama of all people.
"Oh, you mean their water breaks."
"Yeah, that's what I said."

Wow, I guess he is learning something from DiscoveryHealth.

Ch-ch-changes...

I have been noticing all three kiddos doing little things that they weren't able to do several weeks ago. They are getting taller and more self-serving by the moment and it seems like I am missing it. Toddlers are interesting creatures. Such a infuriating mix of dependency and not. I do have the self-awareness to know as they need me less, a little part of me will be sad.

Wyeth can turn on the water in the sink while brushing his teeth.
Ella can fully operate door-knobs.
Fara is attempting to walk down stairs when a handrail is available at her height.
Wyeth can zip his coat and also attempts to help with the girls' coats.
Fara uses the couch like she owns it.
Ella can turn the light on in Wyeth's room.
Ella can turn off the television., using the remote.
Wyeth can open the refrigerator and dispense string cheese.
Fara climbs into the Yukon XL and attempts to get in her car seat.

These are small changes, but as the mama they are quite noticeable.

QOTD

"That is my school for "Small Tots" because I am not tiny anymore." ~ Ella

Wyeth has been pointing the school he attends every time we drive passed it for the last several years. Today, Ella got in the action for the first time. She is excited about going to school like her big bro, but not impressed with being called a "Tiny Tot".

*giggles*

Blah, blah, blah...

Life seems to be buzzing along with no real excitement. We have passed around another round of runny noses. Mr. Work has a handful of open deals which a wonderful news. I have been busy with MUMs stuff. The babes are going and changing before my eyes.
This time of year always has a tendency bring on the blahs.
It's is difficult not to look forward to the future when you have the blahs. I feel like maybe slowing down and taking in life moment by moment helps the blahs to clear more quickly.

Montana Tease

The kiddos are ready to get out and romp. This is the time of year that we experience one beautiful day of warmth and sun, followed by ten days of forty degree temps with wind and/or moisture.
This tease always tricks me into washing my car and I ordered a couple of summer outfits for Ella from Children's Place. They are soooo cute, but she would freeze to death in them today.
Today is the second day of Spring. Come on Montana let the warm weather begin.

Oh and on a side note, I would like to report that after months and months of requesting juice, Ella has FINALLY started asking for water. Wahhooo!

Rumage Sale

It's stuff so interesting. I was shocked that people wanted to buy the items I had donated to the sale. And why is that? What makes stuff cool? Bringing stuff into your home new or used should just be just as exciting. We have things to make our lives easier...so why would I worry about where they came from? And if I have things in my love only because I need them, why do I have such a hard time letting some stuff go.
Stuff can bog you down and clearing your life of too much stuff can be liberating.
I think purging needs to be part of my every day routine...let's dump more stuff.

QOTD

"Daddy, you are killin' me." ~ Ella

I can't wait to hear what she tells him when she is seven.

Princess Ella

Ella got a big trunk of dress-up clothes for Christmas from Grannie and Papa Cowboy. She wore them off and on for a couple of days and had showed little interest in them since. Well, that is until about a week ago. And for the last week, she has had on the same pink dress every waking moment.
I find it to be good news that she will take it off if we are leaving the house. And she doesn't insist on sleeping in the pink dress. But it's a fight if you think she should not use the restroom or dine while wearing it.
She's getting the pincess thing down pretty well. Pretty - check. Bossy - check. High-pitched voice - kinda.
She is a hoot, that much is true.

Do I want to work?

I have been toying around with the idea of seeking part-time employment. Not that the economy is in the best state and part-time jobs are around every corner, I have been hearing that the school Wyeth attends is in need of a change in the development area. That happens to peak my interest a bit. Mr. Work and I plan to send our kiddos to Holy Spirit for many years. I have a vested interest in the success of the school on many levels.
So, today I spoke to the principal sharing my interest in the future. He asked that I write a letter of application and he will keep me in mind if any changes in the current situation should come about. That is a start.
I am a bit nervous about leaving the kiddos for even 20 hours a week. However, Wyeth will be in half day kindergarten, Ella will be in pre-school a couple days a week, so that leaves Fara at home. Optimally, I would love to have Miss Shirley come back for the time I am out of the house. We will have to cross that bridge when and if we come to it.
Argh...(in an excited way).

Friends

Yesterday, Wyeth had a playdate for the first time since since his best friend, Baxter, moved to Mississippi over a year ago. I am not big on other people's children at my house. Frankly, I often have a problem with my own children at my house. But the thing with Baxter is, his mom is my best friend, and we have a deal. We are comfortable enough to approach each others kiddos like they are our own. Which means I didn't tiptoe around telling the kiddos, "it is my house, my rules." It's a cool deal. I know not everyone could be cool like that, but Sara and I are.
Anywho...where was I, oh yes, Wyeth had his buddy from school join us for a Mommy & Me field trip to Home Depot. It went really well, and the boys were a great help with Ellie and Farfar.
As we were commuting to the Home Depot across town, I listened to the boys chit-chat in the backseat. It's interesting to listen to your babe be a little person. They chatted about their favorite restaurants, Scooby-Doo, and Star Wars. Their little lives have been so different and yet so much the same. I was proud of my little man and proud of our little friend too. They are good kids.

I think, it might just be time I get over myself and have some more regular playdates.

QOTD

I have been trying to decide how to rid our lives of the "paci". Both girls are helplessly in-love with their pacifiers. In the last 12 months or so, I have fluctuated between not being bothered by the constant paci use and completely annoyed by the nightly bedtime paci hunt to make sure there are enough of each type of paci (Ella loves Nuk and Fara in a Soothie girl, roughly between three and five each) in the beds for the girls to find one in the night. Admittedly the desire on my part to be totally rid of these glorious little soothers is low. It is so easy to get up at 3:29 am and stumble into their room, feel around the floor for a paci, hand it off and stumble back to bed. This has been the ONLY way to sooth Ella for as long as I can remember.
So, with all the being said...I brought up the idea of a "Paci Fairy" coming to pick-up all of said pacifiers, taking them to a new baby that needs them, and leaving the coolest coolio toy in return.
Ella listened, tilted her head, and said, "Oh no, that is a bad idea."

So...I suppose it's back to the drawing board?!?!?!

"Airs"

Fara is FINALLY starting to get some hair. She calls them her "aires".

Here are the after the tubby curls she gets. Sorry for the pic quality. I couldn't be bothered to used an actual camera.

QOTD

"I hope Obama fails". Rush Limbaugh

This is oldish news, but WTF!

I went back and read the full transcript of this radio show for the day this comment was made to be sure it things weren't taken out of context. Um, let's just say they weren't.

I dislike Bush with a passion that is a waste of energy, but who doesn't understand that if Obama fails we all fail. Duh!

And furthermore, does anyone remember Phil Donahue? He was fired in early 2003 for having guests on his show who didn't think the war was a good idea. Not hoping it would fail, just having the courage to be anti-war at all.

I am all for a little partisanship. Life is gray. The two extremes have to meet in the middle.

"Rush the blowhard" is a frustrating brat.