Thanksgiving revisited

Here are two of my nieces decorating what would become one of the tablecloths (the one for the kids table). All 5 kids helped out. It was adorable.


B, L and my 3 nieces hamming it up while I cooked. It was amazing how well entertained L was just by the mere presence of the girls. R was still napping.


Now R is up and giving his mommy some love.


Here is one of the few pictures of me cooking. My mom is trying to entertain R -- who was desperate for mommy's attention when he wasn't playing with his cousins or brother.


Here is the spread. Yep -- I CAN cook. When I want to of course, which isn't often.

And here is the whole family. I can't believe I got everyone to look at the same time on the first shot.

What has become

of me?

Ok. I love sleep. I am not a morning person. Heck, I am not really a night person either. I am a nap person. I like my sleep. A lot.

So, why the hell am I awake at 3:33 AM the morning after Thanksgiving (which, thank you very much was totally hitch-less and actually came out awesome. I will have pictures to share soon). Oh that is right -- another cockamamie idea my sister and I came up with that involves getting up too damn early the morning after we stayed up late.

See the Saint -- she did L's birthday party cake last night. Great right. Sure. Crawled in bed at 11.

My day -- black friday shopping, 9 am pedi appointments (with shots) for BOTH boys, home, lunch, nap, WAKE THE KIDS UP EARLY, L's birthday party and whamo a fundraiser tonight for a Navy Seal I was good friends with and who died.

So, no sleep last night. None projected for tonight. Next to no sleep on Monday night due to L being sick, etc. I seriously want to know where all my sleep went.

Goble, goble

Yesterday, my house looked a lot like the Michael Phelps commercial where he is chopping veggies and food is flying everywhere. Everything that can be chopped and prepped is ready to go. My house is like the set of the Food Network with all the spices and such in little bowls, pre-measured and just ready to be dumped.

Ok, so it isn't that crazy, but it is close.

We host Thanksgiving every year. Usually my sister and I do the prep work on Wed. This year she didn't come up until late Wed night. So I got to do all the prep myself.

This dinner has become quite possessive of me now. I actually think I may be able to pull off the whole thing with little to no help.

Wish me luck. I will let you know in a few hours if I lost my mind during the attempt or if it came off without a hitch.

Three

Three is an important number here today.

Three is the number of loads of laundry I did last night after L started throwing up.

Three is the number of hours of sleep I got -- I think, although talking to B is sounds like it was closer to 2.

Three is the number of days L has until his party

And three -- that is the number of years he is today. Three. What a way to celebrate your birthday -- with a tummy bug.

Happy birthday baby boy. How did you end up so old? Get better soon. Although you are already torturing your mom, so maybe you are well on the way to recovery.

Oh... gross

So, I guess three is the age of more gross things to happen with L.

I am used to the runny noses, the dirty/smelly behinds, the vomiting. Those are the things I was expecting when I started this venture into motherhood.

What I was hoping to avoid was the eating of boogers.

It happened this morning. After a few minutes of trying to explain to him why it was gross and he should do it, he still continued to insist that he must eat his boogers. I don't know what I am going to do to stop that.

And yes, I handle poop on a daily basis - dumping and swishing cloth diapers. I wash the cloth diapers here at the house. And no, that doesn't even come close to the grossness that eating boogers is.

L and his pee pee

L informed me this morning that he needs to go to the doctor.

I asked him why? He then told me that the doctor needs to take off his mole.

Ok -- he has a mole on his groin. Right on what a woman would call her bikini line. It isn't raised or anything, just a black dot. He has known about his mole and feels free to tell others about it.

So I tried to convince him that he didn't need it removed and that the doctor would have to use a knife and cut and it would be ouchies.

To which he responded "Mole hurt my pee pee. No doctor cut off my pee pee"

I thought it was hilarious. First that he thinks the mole will hurt his penis, and that he is already horrified about losing his penis at the age of THREE! So I had to call B and made L repeat the whole story to his father. Apparently, L has already told B this story. Last night in fact.

Now, in retrospect, I am a little concerned. First of all -- who is giving my child the idea that the mole needs to go. As I said he has known about his mole for the better part of a year now and never been concerned about it. And second - who has seen the mole to give him that idea. Granted, to the uninitiated it looks a lot like poop is stuck on his groin, but no one new should be helping him with the potty. In fact there is next to no need to help L with the potty at all. I mean down to wiping, he is totally independent in that area at home.

So, do I continue to find this hilarious or do I get more concerned?

The big sigh

The kids -- they are driving me bonkers! I don't know why. Loud. They are very very loud.

They like to scream like banshees. And race in circles chasing each other.

And fight -- over everything. We got R a new set of tractors (because he has practically no new toys himself) and L has decided that every last one belongs to him.

Then tonight it was wonderful. We came home, I made dinner, we played and then we sat down to eat.

All was wonderful. Until B got home.

And then the beast was on the loose.

How is it that they both favor their dad and yet he is the reason they are driving me bonkers.

Generations

My grandparents are 91 and 87. My grandfather just knew he would die before he was 90 as his mom died just before she turned 90. My grandmother already thinks she has lived too long. It is really kind of sad, but she has had terrible arthritis for my entire life and her hands and feet are literally malformed now. I joke and say she is going to outlive us just so she can complain that we all left her.

In the meantime, I am so happy that my kids know their Mam and Pap and thoroughly enjoy their time with them.

Chores

I had a women's lunch yesterday. At our table was a woman who is due Dec. 3. My due date with L was Dec. 4. I laughed about the fact that I am sure she is so done and ready to have this baby. She is.

Also at the table was the head of the local Jewish Community Center where apparently they have one of the best preschools/daycares. Our conversation quickly turned to the things picked up in a daycare/preschool setting that kids just don't seem to get at home (note -- this is not a stay at home vs. working mom thing. I would suck at the former. I know I would. Kids like school better then being home with me. I agree with them.).

L and R amaze me these days. The things they do -- cleaning up their toys, washing their hands unasked before and after meals and helping each other -- weren't taught to them here.

L on the other hand has been given more and more chores to do on a daily basis. First it started as a - hmm, I wonder if he can do it - and has developed into "his jobs". In the morning he helps pick out breakfast if he is awake, he makes his bed, he clears the dishes off the table and he has to dress himself.

In the evening, he also has to clear the dishes off the table, dump them in the garbage and put the plates in the sink. He also helps with making dinner and if B hasn't made coffee in the morning, he helps with that too.

On the weekend he vacuums his room. He probably would do the entire house if I let him, but since it takes him more than 30 minutes to anally do his own room (it is like 10x10 - not big!) I don't think we have 4 hours for him to do the rest of the house. He has picked up some of his grandmother's OCD tenancies.

Is it mean that my almost 3 year old has a list of chores he is "supposed" to do? Maybe, but checking in with my mom, I had a similar list at 3 so I don't think I am doing any permanent damage. Yet.

Now -- how old do you think he needs to be before he becomes responsible for cleaning up the dog poop in the back yard. I have a few years there, no?

Busy busy weekend

It was a busy weekend in the Smoo household. First, of course we had swimming lessons on Saturday morning. B had to be absent (don't ask why -- seriously, a rant will likely be forthcoming if you do...). So I had swimming lessons at 11 and 1130 with 2 different kids. Somehow I got R out of his swimsuit, into the babysitting room and L into his swim suit and out on the deck in 3 minutes. One would think that I had some experience here.

Anyways, aside from that and the normal 7000 loads of laundry (really, there are 4 of us here... how do we have so much laundry a week??), the normal yard work, etc, here is what else we did.

On Saturday, I crocheted 2 hats. I did a third on Sunday. Here is what I have done so far. (to be honest - the large one I did last week. The other one that I completed this weekend is a present to someone who reads this, so it can't be shown here yet. All have the tassels on them now too).

B and I had to install a new garage door as the motor exploded on our old one last weekend. Luckily this only took us about 3 hours and L was able to help during the last hour while R finished up his nap.

I handled the wiring of the opener while B did the sensors at the bottom to keep it from coming down on one of the boys. (trust me, sounds more impressive then it really is).


We worked on our bicycle riding skills. I think we have a 2 wheeler mastered. There isn't a chance he is going to even be trying without the training wheels until he have him in a helmet though. I though I had gotten one. Have no idea where I put it though.


R's closet finally got the overhaul it has desperately needed. All those clothing just thrown in there -- yeah, stuff he has outgrown in the 4 short months that we have lived in this house. Before:

And After:

It was such a long busy weekend on by all parties (the boys helped B move a pile of gravel while I ran errands that I have let build up for a month, got stuff for L's birthday party, etc.).

R even crashed at the table while eating lunch. Poor guy. Luckily his big brother is always on the look out for him and let us know right away (yeah, we are rock star parents and weren't watching).



Now - where is my weekend to recover?

Better late

I just realized I never posted pictures of the boys and I carving pumpkins. B took the pictures, so... um, yeah.

Age 3 -- so much better then I thought

I have been referring to L as 3 for a few months now. Lets be realistic... he isn't three yet. He will be in 19 days, but at some point 33 months just sounds like 3.

Regardless, I think I like 3. L is much much easier to deal with then the temper tantruming 20 month old R.

Granted, I don't know if I like 3 or I like L's 3. L's 3 means that he talks to me. Tells me all about his day. These great, grandiose stories about how the world centers around him. My conversation with him this morning was priceless.

I was trying to explain to L that we had a new President and his name was Obama. We worked on saying Obama. I asked him if he knew what the President was. He shook his head no. So I went on to explain that the President is in charge of the country like Ms. Nancy is in charge of his school.

Then I asked him if he knew who the President is now. He said yes. I said who. L turned to me with a giant smile and said ME!

I could only respond with a laugh and the acknowledgment that I too wouldn't want to admit that Bush is the current President either.

Oh and guess who has a big boy bike now? Yeah, it took him all about about 3 seconds to figure it out. Grandpa was very impressed and thrilled his birthday present to L was such a hit.

Oh my God, you have got to be kidding

So, for the last 2 years people have talked politics on a mommy's board I am a member.

It took the actual election for the shit to hit the fan. I am so done with this tip toeing around people because they can't articulate an opinion. Someone actually said that as a response -- well they just dont' know how to voice their opinion. I guess that along with making a good living and being able to support my family is MY fault.

It isn't the debate that made my heart race and my anger shoot through the roof.

It was the finger wagging -- "you shameful people are just looking out for yourself" -- from the same bitch that send me a message and told me L deserved a learning disability because I am his mother.

I thought I could look past it, but hell no. How dare someone like that act as the morality police.

Although, yet again, it shows the low lives that supported Obama and makes me wonder how bad it can really get from here.

Katie -- PLEASE let this president be the person YOU see and not the man I see.

BTW -- I came on here to post 3 -- way more fun then expected and talk about how much fun L is these days. Funny how quickly my happy/lovey mood changed.

yeah -- no more politics

well, after this one...

We are tired of capitalism. Socialism and Marxism are the future, and the future is here. Let those who want to work support the rest of us

Yet another wonderful quip from Newsvine on MSN news.

The sad state of affairs is that in few hours our country will take a leap to where... socialism? spreading the wealth? mainly, just screwing over the middle class yet again. The idea of Universal Health Care for all -- regardless if they want it. A MSN study showed that 23% of American without health care are offered it through their employer. That means 23% DO NOT WANT IT. One person was bitching about the $1170 it would cost her annually to have health insurance. Funny -- no one thinks twice before spending that on car insurance, but you are certainly more likely to get sick then you are to be in an auto accident. God we are populated with some seriously dumb ass people.

So, instead of facing the facts that people are making these choices for whatever reason they are, government is going to be big brother and step in and fix it all. You poor stupid citizens that have no idea, here just let big government do it all for you. *snort*

I sincerely hope that both Obama and/or McCain prove me wrong. I think they are both terrible. We seriously are in a sad state of affairs when that is the choices we have. I chose to vote AGAINST a candidate for the first time in my life.

I am sure this isn't the first time it is going to happen in my life time, but I know I am going to be rolling my eyes and laughing at the stupidity of the American public in about a year when one of 2 things is going to happen 1) Obama doesn't implement a single plan he campaigned on other than raising taxes and 2) the economy is even deeper in the shitter because the employers that have been planning layoffs if Obama is elected go through with them rather then die a slow death due to over taxation.

There is no silver lining to this nightmare.