Frosted Cupcakes (Almost)
Posted by: writesforallmommies on: December 6, 2009
Today is an exciting celebratory and busy, busy day. It is Mad Dog’s and my sixth anniversary and we are celebrating little brother Frick’s third birthday. His birthday is technically the day after our anniversary but with we need to take advantage of his aunt and cousins being here. When I went in to get him up this morning I said, “Who is celebrating their birthday today?”
Frick replied, “Thomas!” I didn’t have the heart to tell Frick that he isn’t in fact a tank engine.
I would write more but my guilt of being a Mom of a kid with a food allergy is not affording me any extra time. Frick is allergic to eggs so I have spent my morning making dozens of eggless cupcakes (I want him to have a bunch to take to school tomorrow on his actual birthday). They still needed to be frosted and sprinkled and frankly, I don’t want to spend the remainder of my sister’s visit attached to the computer or stuck in the kitchen. I also need to put my sister to work. Hope she’s a good cupcake froster!
Christmas Wishes
Posted by: writesforallmommies on: December 5, 2009
Mad Dog’s car is finally fixed. It was a bum battery. It was a lengthy process but eventually he has a new battery free of charge because of his vehicle’s warranty. I’m so glad it was the battery and not operator error. I never would have lived it down if I had in any way caused harm to his beloved convertible.
While Mad Dog was tackling the car problem, I took Skee, my nieces, Soccer Girl and Sparkle, along with Baby D to the spa for some mani/pedis. The girls were so, so cute and Baby D was surprisingly cooperative. He sat on Skee’s lap while she had her pedicure and was an angel. I’m glad it was such a success and that the girls seemed happy with their freshly painted nails.
To cap off the day, when we picked up the boys from school, we headed to the same studio where we had our recent family portrait sitting. There was a Christmas special where Santa comes and has a personal visit with your family for pictures and stuff. Up to this point, Baby D has been very attached to Skee and cries whenever I hold him (he has since warmed up to me considerably). However, when Santa came, Baby D sat in awe and smiled like a champ. He was completely mesmerized by the man in the red suit. It was the cutest thing and yet, it hurt my ego just a tad. He won’t let his dear old aunt hold him but a stranger with a pot-belly and white beard is perfectly acceptable. Oh, well.
When it was Frack’s turn to tell Santa his Christmas wishes it went something like this: guns and swords. You know, peace on earth and all that.
I am having a wonderful time with my sister and her family. Seems like Santa already cared for my wish.
When It Rains, It Pours
Posted by: writesforallmommies on: December 4, 2009
We had done it. My sister and I devised a plan to see each other before Christmas. My heart was smiling as I set off to Super Target to stock my house with baby supplies (for my littlest nephew) and food for my impending guests (my two nieces were coming along as well). As you know from yesterday’s post, once I returned to the convertible and had it completely packed full, the engine was entirely unresponsive. A panicked phone call later to Mad Dog and I had brought my perishables back in the store to be held in the deli locker while Frick and I waited for a car service man to come and rescue us. Frick could tell I was on edge so naturally he had to have a level 8 meltdown in the café. Once his behavior had stabilized (threats and an embarrassingly loud time-out did the trick), he actually was quite pleasant and heartily enjoyed his hot dog. For the most part, after my initial panic, I had rallied and was calm awaiting the next tenets of our Thursday morning adventure.
Surprisingly, the service man was timely (less than twenty minutes from time of Mad Dog’s initial call for roadside assistance) and jumped the car battery without a hitch. I ran back in, grab my refrigerated goods and hit the road as quickly as possible.
Now, I was told to keep the car running for thirty minutes from the time of the jump to make sure the car battery had properly recharged. So, when I pull in my driveway, I roll the windows down (because heaven forbid I lock the keys in a running vehicle) and keep it running. When I have it all unloaded, I run and grab the keys feeling confident all is well as enough time has passed. I realize that the windows are still down. I put the key back in the ignition and guess what? The car is as dead as a door nail. I can’t roll up the windows and it is cloudy with a distinct possibility of rain.
I make a few calls and soon Grandma will be on her way with something that might work just as I am about to run to my neighbor’s to get a tarp. I am literally seconds from the door when Frick announces that he’s pooped. He goes to where our pak-n-play normally is because he is old enough to climb up on it to be changed. It’s not there having been relocated up to the guest room for my baby nephew’s sleeping comfort. To make do, he goes and lays down on the area rug by our computer near the family room. Bad move.
He has had a ridiculous explosive poop that has crept up his back and is all over his clothes and is now all over my rug. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. I strip him down, wipe him up as best I can and throw him in our downstairs shower as I clean up the poop carnage. This is right when Grandma arrives. After he is cleaned up, she offers to stay with him (thank you!) while I run to grab the tarp. Between what Grandma has brought, some towels, garbage bags and the tarp, I think we have the car covered.
And wouldn’t you know, for the remainder of the day the sky was crystal clear with nary a drop of rain in sight.
Oh, Stupid Day!
Posted by: writesforallmommies on: December 3, 2009
I had every intent of writing a hilarious and detailed account of Frick and Frack’s adventures from yesterday. However, I was sidetracked because Mad Dog’s car, which I am driving today, decided to quit working while it was parked at the Super Target loaded to the gills with groceries and goods.
Tomorrow, I will give you all the deets on a day that seems to get more stupid as it proceeds. On the plus side, Mad Dog is an amazingly cool problem-solver, I had fun with Frick in the Target café’ and my sister, Skee, comes in for a visit. The only way is up!
Look Ma, No Bag!
Posted by: writesforallmommies on: December 2, 2009
- In: kids| mommyhood
- Leave a Comment
Big brother Frack was reluctant to leave the custody of Grandma and the company of B Squared and Lil’ Superman (his cousins). Mad Dog went to pick him up so he could go to the Junior’s class at Tae Kwon Do. Normally, he goes to Tiny Tigers because that’s the class he can attend with his brother. Since our schedule is so shifted because of family and the holiday, we let him go to the older class to at least get a lesson in this week.
After he was picked up, Frack was feeling mopey and unmotivated. “Dad, I can’t go to Tae Kwon Do, I have a little bit of a cold (he obviously has heard us discussing his little brother’s recent ailments).”
Mad Dog replied, “Well, that’s too bad because you’ll have to go home and go straight to bed. I guess you won’t be able to meet your cousins at Box Seats (I know, I really need to invest in some shares of that place) after practice.”
Frack says, “Hmmm, I guess I’m feeling better. I think I can go, Dad (way to rally Frack).”
The class was good. It challenges Frack a lot more than Tiny Tigers but some of the content, well, okay a lot of the content was over his head. He had a good time though.
We head to the beloved (by the boys, NOT me) Box Seats and the boys set out to play arcade games and eat fries with their cousins. It goes smoothly until the end when little Frick announces he has pooped. I have to take him out to our truck where all the changing supplies are located. I have been resisting taking my diaper bag everywhere because it is tedious and cumbersome. It is my way of rebelling against the constraints of motherhood. I can’t tell you how freeing it feels to walk into a restaurant, store or doctor’s office with only my kids and a tiny purse in tow. Obviously, the consequence is I have to take Frick to the truck on the off-chance he poops. To me, it’s worth the gamble.
So, it’s a long, drawn-out process to clean him up but I do. After I tie up the diaper in a plastic bag and sanitize my hands I realize there isn’t an outside garbage can I can use. I decide to leave the bag on the back bumper of the truck because I don’t know how long we will be and I don’t want my truck to house the bag’s noxious fumes. I extract Frick from the back of the truck, put the bag on the ledge and swing the rear hatch down. As the hatch passes the bag of poopy diaper, it sort of sucks it up in a whoosh of air and catches it in the corner as it slams shut. The bag pops, and the dirty diaper shoots out and plops to the ground. Yuck. I have to open the hatch again, get another bag, scoop up the gross remains and then sanitize my hands all over again. And you know what? I still have no regrets. Here’s to all the Moms leaving their diaper bags at home. May your shoulders be light and your kids poop-free!
Sit Back
Posted by: writesforallmommies on: December 1, 2009
I decided little brother Frick needed to be seen by the pediatrician. He sounded terrible and still was a walking, dripping science experiment. His fever was gone, I just wanted to make sure whatever he had wasn’t in his lungs or ears.
Mad Dog picked up big brother Frack from school, took him to lunch and than met me and Frick at the doctor’s. As they pulled up I noticed that Mad Dog had a freshly shaved head. That could only mean one thing. So did Frack.
Mad Dog and I don’t see eye to eye when it comes to the length of our boys’ hair. Since we have moved to Florida and our boys are incredibly active, I understand that it makes sense to have little hair in the summer months. However, during the winter here, I want to let their hair grow. As a peace offering, they handed me a gift card to Burger King that said Team Edward with a pic of my favorite, Twilight character. At least Frack wasn’t completely shaved; he still had a little hair on top. I had to let it go.
Big brother Frack realizes that Frick is still under the weather. He turns up the protective empathy and is downright directive and adorable. First, he offers Frick his toy from his Burger King lunch (which Frick takes ownership of with glee) and then he grabs Frick’s hand and leads him into the office.
Once we are back in a room waiting for the doctor, Frack orders little Frick to sit on the cushioned bench and tells him what to expect when the nurse or doctor comes in. Little Frick is mostly game for all this instruction until it is time for the removal of his Lightning McQueen shoes (he’s very attached).
While we wait, I attempt to read the boys a story about Ernie and Cookie Monster. It sort of holds their interest but honestly, I feel like I’m in the middle of a wrestling ring being pummeled into oblivion. Sitting still and quietly is not their style. Soon, little Frick thinks he is cute and starts punching and kicking the book. He is warned, admonished and then punished. He screams ‘sorry!’ at the top of his lungs. In a small exam room, his voice really carries.
When the doctor arrives (she’s unusually pleasant and helpful in Mad Dog’s presence, hmmm…) Frack is right in her face ‘helping’ her examine Frick. We have to keep holding him back and redirecting because he is certain it is his job to assist. At one point the doctor asks if little Frick can cough for her. She asks Frack to demonstrate what she needs Frick to do and Frack proceeds to fake cough all over her (lovely!). Frick just watches in dazed amusement, he doesn’t cough but he does get the all clear. His lungs are good and his ears are clear. All we can do is sit back and patiently wait for the rest of his cold symptoms to run their course. If only all aspects of parenting were that easy.
Nice Try
Posted by: writesforallmommies on: November 30, 2009
- In: children| health| humor| mommyhood
- Leave a Comment
We have been hosting my sister-in-law’s family for the Thanksgiving holiday. She has two boys (B Squared) and they are seven and five. Frick and Frack adore them. They wish they could play with them every single day.
Today at Grandma’s we did a gift exchange with all the boy cousins. Even Lil’ Superman was there. We had to do the exchange now because B Squared are from way up north and won’t be here on Christmas. All the boys were in wrapping paper heaven as they clawed their way through gift after gift. It was a heaping mess of joy and a lot of fun to watch.
After the gifts were open I decided I needed to take little brother Frick home. He still was emitting large amounts of green snot and coughing up a storm. I knew he needed another good nap at home (me too because I have what he has of course). We took a reluctant big brother Frack with us. He protested that he needed to stay with B Squared and Lil’ Superman. We thought he looked awfully tired and could use a break, too.
I had no intention of big brother Frack taking a nap. I figured he would rest quietly like always and just have some down time. Lo and behold, he actually fell asleep! That is saying something. The last time Frack took a nap was several months ago. He didn’t even nap on his recent post-eye surgery days. That kid was TIRED.
Since more than half of my in-laws had hit the road this morning, my sister-in-law relocated to the now vacant rooms at Grandma’s house. Frack did not like this new scenario.
“When am I going to see B Squared again?” he asked with the puppy dog eyes. “The first night B Squared stayed at our house, the second night we all stayed at Grandma’s (except sick little Frick) and then we came back to stay at our house. I’m supposed to go to Grandma’s tonight or we will break the pattern (which he pronounces pattren).”
“No, Frack, not tonight. You need to get some rest, we will see B Squared and Lil’ Superman again tomorrow,” is my firm reply.
“If I go to Grandma’s I PROMISE I will be really good!” he protests. He is mustering every ounce of sincerely sad charm. His eyes are wide and hopeful.
“No, Frack.”
“If I have to stay home I’m going to be really bad then!” he replies.
That, ……was a good one. Nice try, Frack. Nice try.
Snuggies for All
Posted by: writesforallmommies on: November 29, 2009
Poor little Frick. He does not feel well at all. Unfortunately this has meant that Mad Dog and I have allowed him to sleep with us for three consecutive nights. No one is getting good sleep. Frick especially likes to kick Mad Dog intermittently and in inopportune areas. We are all exhausted.
Yesterday little Frick and I stayed home so he could recuperate (me, too!). Mad Dog had gone deep sea fishing with the guy relatives and Frack was at Grandma’s with his boy cousins. When Mad Dog returned with Frack, he brought his birthday presents from his family. One of these presents was an Ohio State Snuggie. I’m sure you are familiar with the Snuggie as it has turned into a national phenomenon sold in Walgreens across America. For some reason, big brother Frack is absolutely obsessed with Snuggies. When we see them out he has to list what kind each of his family member should have (mine would be pink in case you are wondering). When Frack realized his Dad not only had a Snuggie but it was an OSU one as well, he couldn’t wait to try it on and model it for everyone.
Soon we are off to bed, the Snuggie will stay downstairs and we hope against all hope that little Frick will make it through the night in his own room. Our mental and physical health depends on this.
Party Pooper
Posted by: writesforallmommies on: November 28, 2009
It’s nearly impossible to surprise your significant other. That’s because your lives are so deeply entwined any time you veer off course their suspicions are raised. It took some planning and discretion but I think I managed to surprise Mad Dog with a cake for his birthday at his family’s Thanksgiving feast. I also made sure that his parents’ house was sufficiently supplied with Ben and Jerry’s ice cream (cookie dough is Mad Dog’s absolute addiction).
The end result was awesome (it even had a picture of the boys on it riding a motorcycle taken at our recent portrait sitting). The cake turned out better than I hoped and was quite tasty. It was red cake with cream cheese frosting which is also a Mad Dog fave. My end goal wasn’t necessarily a delicious treat; it was to demonstrate how much I love Mad Dog. He does so much to care for our little family; I wanted to do something special for him.
After the cake, and let me tell you, it was weird slicing through the picture of my boys’ faces, all the boy cousins set forth in wild play. However, it was obvious little brother Frick was not feeling great. The sniffle and sneeze he’s been fighting developed into a full-blown fever topped off with green snot. Additionally, as the evening was winding down, he had an explosive poop which required a shower and a changing of the clothes for him (he was NOT happy).
Well, you know how the saying goes; it’s not really a party until someone has a messy, explosive poop, right?
The Color of Love
Posted by: writesforallmommies on: November 27, 2009
Today we are officially celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday. All of my in-laws have safely arrived and we will have our big meal this afternoon. Frick and Frack are having the time of their lives with all their cousins (all boys, the wine will be flowing which goes without saying).
I’m not going to lie. I have been struggling with the holiday season as I’m sure you all might have guessed. It’s approaching nine months since my Mom passed and I have managed a good amount of healing but the major holidays bring my grief back into acute focus. This is because of her glaring absence and also the collected memories of holidays past shared with her.
I need to acknowledge Mad Dog’s patience with me during all of this. My intense (and often unpredictable) emotional state has been less than pleasant. I have to come to appreciate that glimmer of fear in his eyes anytime that he interacts with me. He knows even a simple question like, “What are you doing today?” could potentially set me off. Oh, grief, what a strange and complicated process! Thank you for putting up with me.
To honor my Mom today I am doing something out of character (no, I am not taking up pole dancing, sorry Mad Dog). I am painting my lips a bold red. My Mom was not a person to fuss with her outward appearance (regardless, she was extremely beautiful). She didn’t care to shop, dress-up or wear make-up. She was more concerned about college football scores or spending time outside. However, on the rare occasion we could get her to dress-up, she would apply her single tube of stately red lipstick. I hope that the lipsticked kiss I am sending towards the heavens reaches her today and that I find the one she’s sending me with at least some of the color and all of the love intact.
Search
- Jessica: That's classic. And funny
- writesforallmommies: Cheers!
- writesforallmommies: Yep, I miss my Mom. Today is a hard day, some other days it feels easier. I'm slowly learning how to live in this world without her.
Categories
- bad day (1)
- children (40)
- eyesight (9)
- good grief (14)
- gratitude (11)
- happiness (7)
- health (20)
- humor (30)
- kids (2)
- life in pictures (17)
- loss of parant (6)
- loss of parent (3)
- marital blissishness (19)
- mommy cliques (1)
- mommyhood (89)
- parenting (35)
- potty training (3)
- rock and a hard place (3)
- self care (or lack thereof) (2)
- self-discovery (17)
- self-image/self-acceptance (4)
- surgery (2)
- terrible twos (13)
- Uncategorized (8)
