Terrible, trying, testing, tiring Two's

I've never really placed much emphasis on the "terrible two's".  Lots of people actually say the 2's are fine, it's the 3's that'll get ya.  Well, either those people had very little patience with their toddlers or I had the best twins ever!  Maya and Riley were a dream during their 2's and 3's.  They were so inquisitive and funny and playful.  A bad day was just that, a bad day.  Those were isolated and few and far between and definitely not what I'd consider to be "terrible" at all.  For goodness sake, we all have days with meltdowns....even in our 30's!  The twins turned four this fall and their independence continued to grow as they start school and I just couldn't help but pat myself on the back a little for sailing through my first two kids unscathed.  I was in the middle of writing my acceptance speech for mom-of-the-year......

...and then Teagan turned about 2 years and 3 months (right about the time Maya & Riley started school this fall) and my world came crashing down around me.  She is the Tasmanian devil.....and in her swirling vortex of chaos she has entrapped her sisters and brought them along for the ride.  Heaven help me!

I have potty trained and re-potty trained that kid about 3 times since July.  She has a potty mouth of late and lets and occasional explicit word fly or likes to "potty talk".  She is forever the instigator with her sisters and does stuff to them just to be mean.  Our once fun and easy-going family meals have been replaced with constant reprimands and threats and often times her leaving the table with all of us in disgust over another frustrating evening.  I think I say "sit down and take a bite" about 84 times during any given meal.  She rarely sleeps through the night anymore or she is awake at shortly after 6am and stays awake even though since 8 weeks she's slept a solid  11 hours/night 99% of the time.  She gets Maya and Riley worked up and then the 3 of them totally gang up on me or Bill or whatever.  She is headstrong.  And BOY does she have a TEMPER! 

I mean look at her, she marches to the beat of her own drummer....obviously!

So do I have little patience with my toddler?  Or did having Maya & Riley first set the bar too high?

I know that not every child has the same demeanor, even children in the same family, raised by the same parents with the same parenting philosophy.  It's not like I had my first kids a decade ago and now I am just older and more of a lax parent when it comes to stuff which may have triggered different behavior in her.  Time outs have proven ineffective.  Taking away toys and privileges just lead to uber meltdowns.  And swats to the behind seem to slide right off like I stood there and dumped water on a duck's back. 

Some say it's just a phase. 

Others say she's testing me. 

I say "would YOU like to take her for awhile?" 

So, it is what it is until we figure out what to do.  I guess.  I will continue to show her acceptable behavior and certainly not tolerate outright disobedience or dangerous actions.  I hope that this is short-lived or she may find herself grounded from her Senior prom before she enters pre-K. 

But the best part is knowing that she's only going to be this age for a short while.  She's still my lovey, snugly TT.  She still gives me the biggest hugs and says "I love you mommy, you're my beeessst friend".  She still crawls in bed with me on weekend mornings and give kisses and she still wants to be a big helper with dishes, laundry, playing games or whatever.  She is testing me.  This is just a phase.  This is probably also just her attempting to be more independent like her big sisters and making sure she's not forgotten.  But how we ALL treat this time in her life will help her become the person she is meant to be.  Not every kid is perfect.  Not every parent will be mom-of-the year.  But we are who we are because of each other and in spite of what may happen for a few months or a year out of our lives. 

I mean, come on, any kid that watches TV hugging her rocking horse deserves to be cut a little slack...

(But maybe you could cut me some slack if you see me some day and I look a little worn out.  Thanks in advance!) 

Up for the challenge

What challenges you?  It can be BIG or small, but if it's important to you, it's a challenge just the same.  Recently I have been beating myself up lately for falling so ridiculously far behind on my scrap booking.  I love to do it, I love the memories I can just flip through anytime I want.  I started scrap booking back in the early 2000's.  I spent countless hours with some amazing friends laughing, creating, sharing....it was a good creative outlet and a wonderful way to enjoy time with friends.  And as life goes.....we all got busy, busier, and even busier yet.  Our once-monthly crop sessions that we held religiously dwindled to once every few months....and as of now, I struggle to remember when the last time we had one.  I think I might have been newly pregnant with Teagan.  Hence the reason I don't have time to scrapbook anymore!!!

 

On her first birthday (June 2011) I was 100% caught up on all my scrapbook pages.  And to date.....I have only scrap booked one page since then.  Which means.....I am a year and a half behind.....multiplied by 3 kids......which means 77 layouts behind....give or take.

 

So I am thinking I'll just forget it.  Upload some memory books to Shutterfly, and call it done. 

 

But then the picture below is a common occurrence at our house. 

 

 

 

 

The girls LOVE to look through their scrapbooks. They love to see pictures of themselves and family, special trips we have taken and holidays past. So, it's because of them that I accept the challenge of getting caught up....and (attempt to) stay caught up.  I spent two and a half hours yesterday while they were napping tagging the past 5 months of pictures.  So, another 5 months to go today.  Then I have to print them all, select the paper, and get down to the work of creating.  By my calculations of a reasonable amount of pages I can complete in a month.....I should be caught up on the past year and a half....in approximately 10 months.....which then makes me 10 more months behind.

 

But, whatever.  I am doing it because my girls love it.  I am doing it because it's something I am proud of and it allows me to let off a little steam.  I am doing it because I love a challenge!

Girls gone...wild?!?!?!

This was to be a week for the memory books! Bill was traveling to Denver Monday through Friday and the girls and I were going to kick it up and live large all week. They were back to gymnastics Monday night, we were going to have a PJ pizza party, get really crafty with some of our new Christmas toys, prepare Teagan's room for a special delivery...... and then Monday night arrived. Following gymnastics Teagan got hit with the stomach bug. And then Tuesday Maya and Riley got it. And after cleaning up after the 3 of them....I got a turn (fun!!) and spent the next 2 days down-and-out. Our week of girl fun = EPIC FAILURE!

Reinforcements arrived. We muddled through the week. Did about 8 (extra) loads of laundry. Managed to get everyone feeling better. I am glad we don't get sick very often. As a matter of fact, I can probably count on one hand the number of times I've been sick in the past 10 years. I knew we'd be in for more of our far share this year, what with the girls taking lots of swims in the "germ pool" of school and gymnastics.

What we did get out of our week as a little fun.  Teagan's big girl furniture arrived Wednesday and she is set to go!  The twins had career day today and Maya was a ballerina and Riley was a baker!  (You'll have to take my word for it, because Blogger is being difficult and I am unable to upload the photos).  Daddy came home from his business trip (with souvenirs)...and we all continued to improve.   Maybe next time Daddy travels we'll just aim for "normal". 

Making a come back

Well, considering I haven't had the time (or taken the time) to blog in about 5 weeks, this is my great come back!  December was a whirlwind for our family. Following Thanksgiving the time seemed to spiral out of control with baking, decorating, shopping, wrapping, Christmas programs at school, holiday plans, Bill's birthday and then Christmas and New Years themselves. We (thankfully) had more ups than downs and hopefully in between the hustle-bustle and chaos, we managed to make some good memories for our family.

I'd like to say I had made a resolution to blog more this year or to catch up on the scrapbooks I have fallen desperately behind on, but as resolutions go, most are long forgotten or already blown by the time the last of the holiday leftovers are purged from the frig and the last of the Christmas decorations are back in storage.  I am not much of a resolution person.  Sure, I have goals and I strive to reach those goals, but I don't have to sit down and make a grand promise to myself at the beginning of each new year.  Most of us want to spend a little less, save a little more....or eat a little less and work out a little more....or work a little less and travel a little more.  Whatever the case may be, I don't think we necessarily have to made grand gestures on the eve of every new year.  If you are such a person, GOOD FOR YOU!  I can only hope that whenever we chose to set a goal for ourselves, or make a resolution, it's important enough to us that we see it through, to the best of our ability, every day!

So for the foreseeable future my goal is to be the best "me" I can be.  To have fun with my kids every day.  To take more QUALITY time with my husband.  To turn over to God what I cannot understand, control or handle myself.  To let the small stuff slide.  To take a break to write, or scrapbook, read or workout "just because".  And I know there are days I will fail miserably at one or more of those goals.  But that's the beauty of making a come back.

Each day is a new opportunity. And if we missed out or messed up, what a great way to start all over. Every morning is a chance to make a come back. So if the promises you made to yourself or the resolutions already broken, don't wait another year to make new goals. Make a new goal every day. Even if it's the same goal as yesterday or the day before....make a come back. Make it important enough to work on. Every. Single. Day.    

30 days of thanks

At the beginning of the month I started writing down each day what I had in my life that I considered a blessing.

My 30 days of thanks:

1.  Three freshly bathed girls, dressed in new PJ's snuggling in my bed.

2.  Wearing sunglasses to drive the girls to school for the first time in a week.  Welcome back sunshine!  As the girls put it "what a beautiful, sunny day!"
3.  The new book the girls picked off the shelf today to read before naps & bedtimes was "My First Bible".
4.  Mushy bananas (ick)...and for the 2 wonderfully delicious loaves of banana nut bread that are baking in the oven.  Perfect for a fall day.
5.  Grandparents.  The wonderful people that helped shaped my life growing up and are at the foundation of so many of my childhood memories.  And the "grandpas, grannies, paps, grammies, grandmas, papas and gram grams" that are so important in the the lives of my children. 
6.  For the ability, right, privilege and honor to vote. 
7.  For Wednesdays....for the 5 (short) hours when the sitter comes and I can run errands, do office work, get a haircut or just THINK in peace!
8.  For the sunset views fro my back deck.  "Cotton candy sky" as the girls say.  One of God's masterpieces!

9.  The opportunity to attend a special Mass at the girls' school with them in honor of Veteran's Day.
10.  Time spent with family.
11.  A great church family, a warm day and a little spontaneity!

12.  Fall that has given us so many blessings as a family. 
13.  That my girls think outside of the box and for lunch on this chilly fall day we had hot dogs, corn on the cob, watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries and pineapple.

14.  For great friends that make the world a better place.
15.  Thankful for my wonderful siblings and all of the crazy fun and love they bring to our family!!
16.  FRIDAY!!  Hello weekend!
17.  Sauerkraut!!!  Lots and lots and LOTS of freshly canned, homemade sauerkraut....YUM!
18.  Thankful that my girls are great travelers!
19.  For a fun, relaxing hour with my husband getting a pedicure.
20.  Surprises!  That Aaron made it in to North Carolina to celebrate Thanksgiving with the family and a fun time had by all at Pullen Park.

21.  For the times I get to watch my children drift off to sleep
22.  For the opportunity to share a meal with my wonderful husband, beautiful children, extended family and give thanks and praise to God for all of our blessings.
23.  Thankful we decided to extended our vacation an extra day and were able to spend more time with family.
24.  For a safe trip home.
25.  For all of the Christmas decorations piled high in the garage....time to get ready for my favorite time of the year.
26.  Thankful for the warm weather today and the chance to get the final fall clean-up and outdoor decorations done (and not having to freeze my tail off to do them!!!!)
27.  To starting a new tradition:  writing letters to Santa!  We are taking Santa Train this weekend and get to meet Santa and give him our letters. Sooooo excited!

 

28.  For being able to knock out a good deal of the remainder of my holiday shopping list.

29.  For the 5 boxes of Girl Scout cookies we remembered were in the freezer....BRING ON THE THIN MINTS!

30.  For yesterday.  For today.  For all the tomorrows ahead.  For all of you dear to our hearts that give us something to be thankful for every day.  For the start of Advent (my favorite part of the Christian year) and the celebration of the birth of our King.  For the feeling of excitement growing in anticipation of the look on my kids' faces this Christmas and hearing their laughter and shrieks on Christmas morning.  For the good times that make us laugh and the hard times that make us stronger.  I am thankful for it all.  For that's what it's all about anyway!

 

 

 



Things kids say

So, throughout our days, my girls come up with some real doozies!  They are never short of topics to discuss, questions to pose or comments to proudly professed.  They are picking up on intonation of voices around them and certain slang is starting to come through in their conversations as well.  Today they were full of it!

Just a sampling of what I was treated to tonight en route to gymnastics:

Riley:  Mom, how old are you?
Me:  35
Riley:  And what comes next, 36?
Me:  Yes
Maya:  And what is next?  37 and 38 and 39?
Me:  Yes
Riley:  And what comes after 40, when you are old?!?
Me:  Gee, thanks!
Maya:  After 40 comes 100 when you can really cute loose and party! 

While making dinner the girls were playing with their Little People and Maya couldn't find one of her dolls. 
Me:  Maya, what is wrong?
Maya:  I can't find the mommy doll.
Me:  Is it in the toy room?
Maya:  Yes, Riley is looking for it.  She's a good toy finder.  Almost like you
Me:  That's nice.
Riley (as she climbed the stairs):  I found the daddy doll
Me:  Where is the mommy doll?
Maya (in total disgust):  Probably on a toy-mommy vacation
Teagan:  WHAT FOR??!?

And then they topped themselves during dinner as I was making up a little song to try and get them to eat:
Maya:  Boy mom, you are a good singer
Me:  Thanks buddy.
Riley:  And you are a really, I mean REALLY, great drinker

What kids say is one thing, what we hear them say is another.  They are becoming little people with a sense of humor.  While maybe not flattered by all they had to say tonight at my expense, I am amused by the logic they put together and how they express themselves.  I guess after they go to bed I'll take my old, partying, drinking self to the couch and have a mommy vacation. 

Thanks and giving

Tis the season for Thanksgiving.  Sure, I mean the turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, yummy veggies and delicious baked goods.  A table finely set with good china, linens and candles.  A warm room filled with family and loved ones.  And this year, as in years past, I know we'll sit around such a table with such a feast spread before us and one-by-one we'll give thanks.

We seem to have no shortage of things to be thankful for.  I know friends that take the month of November and try to list something everyday that they are thankful for.  I know people that have a thanks and praise journal of sorts and every day they write what they are thankful for to keep as a reminder.  I am using November for just a purpose myself, taking the time to write it down each day so that I can see it right in front of me.  It also will be a good lesson that when days are long and challenging, there should always be at least one thing we can find to give thanks. 

I am trying to look at this in a broader sense this year, of both thanks AND giving.  So in addition to thinking of what I am thankful for this season, I am also getting the girls involved in giving.  Giving back, giving where we can, just giving!  Yesterday I donated the $0.44 in change I got back at the store to the literacy campaign the store was sponsoring.  Today the girls and I each took in a canned food item to their school for the food drive.  We are working on tomorrow's project already to color and draw pictures to mail to a dear friend recovering from knee surgery (if you read this now, just act surprised when you get it!).  I am hoping by getting the girls involved in my plans, we'll be able to talk about the things we are blessed with and how we can use our blessings to help others.

I also challenge you to be in the giving spirit as well.   I don't believe it has to take tremendous amounts of money or time to accomplish this, sometimes just a simple act of smiling at someone in the store and stopping to say 'hello' may mean the world to that person on that particular day.  Take a meal to a shut in.  Help an elderly neighbor rake leaves or clean out their gutters.  Donate a food item to a food drive.  Buy a toy for a "Toys for Tots" program.  Send homemade cards to a military person serving our country.  Volunteer at a soup kitchen.  However you are moved to give, please do it.  Get others involved as well be it in your family, church, or neighborhood. 

I hope I can find the time to be able to give for all 30 days of November as well as writing down my points of thanks.  If not, I know at the end I'll be so thankful for the days I was able to do just that little extra for someone else.  I'll know that I've worked to show my girls how important it is and to be thankful that we have so much to give.