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.