An Embarrassing Moment

I blush easily. It doesn't take much to turn me all rosy cheeks. Well, speaking of "cheeks", here is an example of my taking multi-tasking one step too far today.

You know how I have two little ones charging through the house all day. My nephew literally barrels through most of the rooms. I tend to be on patrol most of the time. When it was just me and Jillian, I would try and do some stretches for a few minutes each day. Now I don't really get a chance to do my stretching with homework and after school activities.

Today, as the two little ones are happily drawing with chalk on the driveway, I decide to stretch in the fresh, crisp air. During the day, our block is very, very quiet. Practically deserted at times. I thought, "What's the harm in getting my stretches done for just 10 minutes outside?" Well, I was stretching along quite well when I nearly jumped out of my skin as my daughter said, "Mom look who's behind you." I was all bent over, posterior towards the street. A guy with a petition is standing there with a slight grin. I wonder if this guy was wearing ballet shoes and floated over to us. He just seemed to "appear" two feet away from me.

I flipped up into position probably too quick. My hair had that whole Bride of Frankenstein look as I became upright. If I was 21, I most likely would have been more embarrassed. I did blush initially, but I laughed it off pretty quick. Glad that I didn't fall over when my daughter announced this guy's arrival. I would probably be in some kind of traction right now.

Now the question remains: Should I stretch outside again? Maybe I'll just face the street this time:)

Tot Talk Tuesday

Here is Jillian after a day at the pool. She loves the swings.

Jillian loves her Disney princess dolls. She has one prince doll, Prince Phillip. I usually get assigned a certain princess for my playtime with Jillian. Last time, I got to play with Princess Jasmine. I told Jillian that I was going to have Prince Phillip dance with Princess Jasmine.

She scrunches up her face in horror and says, "Mommy, Jasmine is the prince's Monday girlfriend. He has to dance with the Tuesday princess, Cinderella."

She quickly adds, "You know he has a lot of girlfriends."

Looks like we're playing harem roulette over here in my daughter's pink palace :)

Jump over to The Monkeys and Me to see what all the tots have to say!

Thanks everyone for your kind and supportive comments yesterday. You always know how to make me feel better :)

Happy Tuesday!

How can I forget a picture of my rowdy boys? A day at the zoo.

Kids vs. Mom - Ready for the next round?

The elusive right word
for explosive situations
likes to tease and taunt
and watch from sidelines
as exasperation grabs hold
and erupts with wrong word
and my stomach tightens.

If I didn't care so much, I don't think my conflict resolution troubles would bother me this intensely. I hate getting so worked up at times. As my kids get older, I notice that it is more difficult to get them to listen when it really counts. My boys get especially troublesome when they are in competitive mode. Is it something with all that testosterone? They seem to push each other and me when they want to win an argument. I hate when their sports debates turn physical. As mama bear, I want to run out and stop any roughhouse that may go the wrong way. The boys can be great friends one minute, and then they can turn into gladiators ready for a fierce battle. Even my youngest boy can turn into a bulldog when he gets angry or provoked.

I'm curious if other parents see a similar trend in their own homes with older children. These emotional ups and downs of parenting exhaust me more than labor and childbirth some days :) Not that I want to go through that again to compare! Do your kids know how to push your buttons?

Sunday Citar

Matisse

It's Sunday Citar time with Fresh Mommy. Please visit Tabitha's wonderfully creative and insightful blog for more quotes. Today, I found some great quotes from famous philosophers.

The energy of the mind is the essence of life.
Aristotle

The less you open your heart to others, the more your heart suffers.
Deepak Chopra

Compared to what we ought to be, we are half awake.
William James

I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve.
Charles de Montesquieu

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.
Albert Camus

Call me a Broadway Baby

My parents always had a special place in their heart for musicals. "Fiddler on the Roof" was at the top of their list. As I sat here alone typing away, songs from this show came back to me. My parents always shared their love for song and performance with their kids. I hope you enjoy this sweet, clever song from a truly memorable movie. I think I'll borrow my Mom's copy of this movie again :)

Girl Power

My daughter has discovered the cartoon, The Powerpuff Girls. She is enthralled by these kindergarten superheroes. She asked me, "Mommy, can a girl be as strong as a boy?" So here is my poem inspired by her question. My poetic inspiration is coming from the oddest places these days :)

A Girl Can

Daughter mine opportunity
hidden in precious enclaves.

Inhale that strength
to surprise and awaken.

Tower over uncertainty
with thoughts and words.

Shake off the dust
to diamond our world.

Daughter grab hold
the summit calls.

September 24, 1993

Let's talk about what is different about me from 16 years ago today:

1. Ornery gray hair popping up and driving me crazy.
   
2. My morning is dictated by laundry catch up.
3. I spend like 30 seconds on makeup application.
4. 4 excitable, creative, exasperating, lively, loving kids circle me constantly.
5. What doesn't ache on my body?

16 years ago today:

1. I "politely" reprimanded a pushy photographer.
2. I tried to dance in layer after layer after layer of a poofy dress.
3. Hair spray shellacked my hair.
4. Politically spoke to drunk relatives.
5. Laughed, cried, smiled, loved and rejoiced.

Today, I celebrate 16 years of a fun, happy marriage with my honey. I would go on and on with a tribute to "honey", but my daughter is insisting on playing on Barbie.com. No longer a bride for sure :) Mama is on duty!!

How can I forget Tot Talk?

Where did Tuesday go? I'm going to cheat a little and do my Tot Talk Tuesday on Wednesday. I know, I'm such a dangerous rule breaker :)

Speaking of rules, here are some of Jillian's rules for entry into her princess kingdom:

"Boys can't sit on my bed."

"Boys can't stand next to my babies."

"Boys can't stand on my floor."

"Boys can't watch me play from the hallway."

I think Jillian's brothers would probably get access to Jillian's room if they were harnessed with a suspension cord like Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible. However, I can see her saying something like "boys can't swing in my air".

Oh, how her tune will change when she gets bigger. My husband wants to freeze time and keep those future boys at a distance :)

Happy Wednesday! Visit The Monkeys and Me for more Tot Talk Tuesday (even on Wednesday).

Reason, please visit this Sweet Child Of Mine

Reason, please come knocking on my twelve year old's door soon. I truly would love to see you do your magic and help me have a rational conversation with my soon to be teenager. Mr. Moody has taken your spot in my son's head. This busy mom could really use your assistance.

Sincerely with great hope,

A battle ready and sometimes worn Mama

P.S. If you could send Mr. Cooperation to my house, I would truly be in your debt.


Here's a video from my not so reasonable days as a teenager. I'm sure my Mom has stories of some our confrontational encounters back in those days. I guess I can take this ride with my guy, bumps and all.



This is still a good song!

One of my poetry quickfires

Remember when I said that I would try poetry quickfires once in a while? Well, here's what I came up with during a five minute break as the kids watched Elmo. Thanks for reading!

Pencil Me

Crumpled up sketch of me
lying in a dusty corner.
Half used tools pushed aside
through life's tumbles.
Scratched up composition
begs to be named.
My indefinite floats around
waiting for the right net.

Sunday Citar - Poets

I love looking through quotes of some of my favorite poets. Even if I only read one poem a day, I feel richer and enlivened by the experience.

"To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else."
- Emily Dickinson

"In a poem the excitement has to maintain itself. I am governed by the pull of the sentence as the pull of a fabric is governed by gravity. " - Marianne Moore

"And your very flesh shall be a great poem. " - Walt Whitman

"How frail the human heart must be - a mirrored pool of thought." - Sylvia Plath

Visit Fresh Mommy today for more interesting and fun quotes.

Mama's boat is ready

Monet

I'll Sail You Through

My boat rocks anchored
until the time to let go.

Standing on my deck
tentative feet cling steady.

Crouching over lambs
as my back weathers storm.

Grabbing onto my mast
they can jump the waves.

Here's a quick poem on my mind this morning. Remember that great novel The Old Man and the Sea? Just call me "Old Mama and the Sea" as I carry my kids through sometimes rough waters.

Happy Saturday!

Friday High Five

I don't want a Friday to go by without playing along with Angela over at Angela's Adventures and Minor Mishaps. Here's my Friday High Five fun!

FIVE EXAMPLES OF MY FORGETTING TO WORRY
ABOUT MY APPEARANCE AS MOMMY ON THE GO

1. I rushed through my peanut butter & jelly sandwich so that I could get to the bus stop at time. Of course, a kind mom pointed out that I had evidence of that peanut butter lunch still on my face. I have to schedule napkin time for myself.
   
   
2. One time, I was not thrilled to discover that my quick pony tail in the morning was not the best look for an entire day. I looked like Pippi Longstocking (remember her?).
   
   
3. I'm lucky if I remember to put on any makeup before heading out. Don't you just love those comments from "concerned neighbors": "Kelly, you're so pale. Are you feeling well?" My reply: "Welcome to my face in its natural state!"
   
   
4. When I was younger and single, I would rotate my outfits. Now the same pants may come back in the rotation after 2 days. After cleaning them, I just put them on top of the "get dressed quick" pile. People must think that I own only 2 pairs of pants!
   
   
5. Just call me rushing Kelly. Have you ever had a moment at a crowded bus stop when you say to yourself, "Did I put on my deodorant?" That doubt can bother you for those 5 long minutes.

Happy Friday everyone! I hope to get to your blogs tonight :)

The Zombie is Awake and Active

Thanks everyone for your kind comments yesterday. I'm still trying to sort out fact from fiction regarding how Joe's teacher handles the kids each day. I will have a class mom meeting with the teacher next week. Hopefully, I'll have a clearer picture of what's going on in the classroom by then. Joe seems better today so maybe he's starting to adjust to this structured kind of classroom. Another mom did send me an email this morning and she wrote: "Kelly, I have to tell you about something I heard about the teacher." The drama continues. I'll keep you all posted.

I guess it is fitting that I call myself "Septembermom" since September seems to be my busiest and craziest month of the school year. It's like a jungle gym here now with my 4 year old daughter and 3 year old nephew charging through the rooms. Guess what I feel like today? Here's a song to give you a clue. I can still remember being 22 and listening to this song on the train as I headed off to work in NYC. Now 19 years later (yikes!), I really know all about feeling like a mommy zombie!


Uh oh! I think my jungle gym acrobats are off to the bathroom. Who knows what flood awaits me? Better run :)

My first grader is not happy

Some of you may remember my post about my sweet Joe. I actually wasn't planning on posting anything right now, but I am worried about Joe's day to day experience in first grade. I need to talk to somebody so I know you guys are always ready to listen :)

Last year, he would come home and excitedly share stories from his day in kindergarten. This year, he comes home looking tired and withdrawn. Other mothers are saying the same things about their children in this class.

I hear that the teacher runs the class almost in a military fashion. She has very high expectations and likes to run a tight ship. I think the kids are a bit shell shocked from the sweet, playtime of kindergarten as they deal with her very structured classroom. I'm worried that Joe is not having a nice time each day. I also heard that she is strict about bathroom times and snack. You know they are six. She can relax her rules a bit, don't you think?

I'm going to try and find out more today. I'll keep you guys posted.

Just needed to spill out my worries to my blogging buddies :) Thanks for being here.

Tot Talk Tuesday

Here is something that Jillian said after I went to a class parent meeting.

"Do Mommys ever stop talking?"

And then she said:

"You all say the same things over and over again."

I think my husband was nodding his head in agreement.

Visit The Monkeys and Me to see what all the tots have to say.

Can you believe that I was picked to be class parent for two of my boys this year? It will be a challenge since I'm watching my 3 year old nephew while my sister goes to school to be an LPN. He is a climber and risk taker so my days are crazy right now. I hope to visit everyone's blogs tonight. I have to get the three boys to religion class this afternoon and soccer practices are all week. On your mark, get set, go....looks like a busy school year ahead!

Happy Tuesday!

Sunday Citar - Can The Beatles Help Me Today?

A Sunday with The Beatles sounds like a good idea. Here's a great song and some interesting quotes from The Fab Four.

I was trying to find a beauty of a Beatles song to share today, but I decided to go with one that is a call for help while I watch my kids "go wild" as I type this post. Listening to this song, I think it really speaks to all us tired Mamas and Papas (wow, another 60's group reference :) who are just trying to get it right each day.



John Lennon: "You're all geniuses, and you're all beautiful. You don't need anyone to tell you who you are. You are what you are. Get out there and get peace, think peace, and live peace and breathe peace, and you'll get it as soon as you like."

Paul McCartney: "Nothing pleases me more than to go into a room and come out with a piece of music."

George Harrison: "I think people who truly can live a life in music are telling the world, 'You can have my love, you can have my smiles. Forget the bad parts, you don't need them. Just take the music, the goodness, because it's the very best, and it's the part I give most willingly.'"

Ringo Starr: "America: It's like Britain, only with buttons."

I thought Ringo's quote was a clever one :)

Visit Fresh Mommy to discover more interesting quotes.

Friday High Five

I wish I could put together a survival guide for my husband who will be handling my three rambunctious little monkeys tomorrow. A Saturday with my three youngest acrobats may drive him to a peaceful life in Tibet!

He is put to the test tomorrow because I will be at the Yankee game with my oldest son. My husband was given these tickets, and we are very excited to see the Yankees play. Since my hubby's back is bothering him, he doesn't think that he is a good candidate for the stadium seats. Lucky me gets to have some fun at the game. I've always been a Yankee fan so I'm looking forward to cheering for my home team again. When I was a kid, I would keep track of all the stats back in the days of Guidry, Mattingly, Righetti, Munson, Randolph and Winfield. You guys know that I need an outing and that I'll make the most of it :)

Sitting in the stadium, I know that I'll wonder if my three young ones are jumping one too many times on Daddy's back. Will that poor back survive this onslaught?

Here is my Friday High Five of possible situations that my husband will have to confront tomorrow:

1. "Daddy, where is the baby's bottle for my doll? No, Daddy, not that one. It's the special one that I ALWAYS use. Please, please, please, please, Daddy find it NOW!"
   
   
2. "Daddy, he never lets me play a long time on the Wii. He thinks he knows everything. So that's why I hid the Wii remote. Help! He put me in a headlock."
   
   
3. "Daddy, I hate when the chicken has brown spots on it. Mommy knows just the right time to take it out of the oven. I won't eat it ever!"
   
   
4. "Daddy, why can't I ride my bike down the street? I won't get hurt, I promise. I don't want to wait for Jillian to go with us. Why does she tell us what to do all the time?"
   
   
5. "I'm bored." Two minutes passes. "I'm still bored." One minute passes. "We have nothing to do." Thirty seconds later, I can see my husband handing them dust cloths and turning them into the chore brigade :)

Hopefully, he'll just pick a super kid friendly movie to calm the troops down. I'll pray for my dear hubby's success tomorrow. I'm sure he'll keep all my ducks happily in a row.

Wouldn't it be cool if my son caught a ball in the left field section tomorrow?

Run on over to Angela's Adventures and Minor Mishaps to join in the Friday High Five fun!

Maybe I'm STRETCHING for poetic inspiration these days...

Signals

That chill upon my arm
brought me out of routine.

What made me notice
when all still had to be done.

My eyes took a moment
to rest on the physical of me.

Jumping through hoops
to satisfy the day's pull.

Rare to stop and see
a body that speaks back.

My body has lost its place
of sanctity in my priority.

The soul cannot join
to a body pure mechanical.


Sometimes a poem comes out of me from left field :) This was inspired by something as simple as my stopping to notice some goosebumps on my arm. Strange muse, don't you think? Anyway, I started to recognize that I truly don't "listen" to my body's needs anymore. I really just go through the motions and neglect my body's signals. I have to stop treating my body like a work horse. My aching limbs would love a massage!

Tot Talk Tuesday

Tot Talk Tuesday time. Here's a quick one.

At my Hello Kitty birthday party yesterday (Jillian was the party planner), Jillian said this to my husband just as he was cutting my piece of cake.

"Daddy, don't give Mommy any cake. I don't want it to stick to her hips."

Jillian truly does listen to EVERYTHING I say. Now the teen years, that will be a different story.

Run over to The Monkeys and Me to see what all the tots have to say.

Knowing me, knowing you questions

Shan, over at Tales from the Fairy Blogmother, has posted her interview questions for September. I'm playing along for fun. Jump over to her wonderful blog to join in.

1. What is your favorite smell?

I love the smell of fresh cut grass and various flowers. My husband has some big sneezing attacks when around flowers so I can't keep them in my house. I like to walk to the bus stop in the spring and stop to smell my neighbor's flowers. I also like the smell of my boys' hair after they shampoo. What a pleasure compared to that sweaty aroma just before they hit the shower :)

2. Did you/would you/are you co-sleep(ing)?

Guilty as charged. I didn't plan on doing it when I became pregnant with my first son. It became easier for me to nurse the little ones around the clock in those early months. As toddlers, the kids would jump back into bed with us sometimes. My two young ones still sneak in at night once in a while. My body seems trained to sleep in contorted positions. My husband has never been thrilled with the idea. He learned quickly not to debate the issue with his cranky, tired wife:)

3. Fall fair season is upon us, so what's your favorite fair food?

I haven't been to a fair in a long time. That's something I should put on my to-do list this year. I do remember loving zeppoles (fried dough topped with powdered sugar). Really addicting.

4. Thinking about Christmas shopping yet?

I should be. I envy those savvy shoppers who have all their holiday shopping figured out already. I still have to plan out tonight's dinner.

5. What's your favorite color?

My daughter insists that it's purple. Whenever we are shopping, she'll pick out every piece of purple clothes in the store for me. If I let her dress me, I would look like Barney! Don't tell her, but I do like pink, blue and green.

What should I do today?

Happy Labor Day everyone! We survived the soccer tournament. At one point, I almost got a ball in the face. Gratefully, a little angel must have been watching over me and I moved away just in time. I would probably have a nose like Marcia Brady after her "football accident".

I need you guys to help me prioritize my to-do list today. What do you think I should definitely get done on this Labor Day?

1. Have my sons pick up 41 little cars in their toy room?
2. Hope my daughter doesn't drop 41 cheerios on the floor?
3. Should I read for 41 minutes straight without interruption?
4. Can I manage 41 jumping jacks?
5. Try to fit 41 candles on my pink birthday cake?
   

By typing "41" 5 times, I'm trying to get over this whole "age thing" :)

I told my 6 year old that I was 23 today. He scrunched up his little face and said, "Really?, Mom I thought you were like 50!" Geez, I guess I can't even fool that young man :)

Birthday cake is on my approved list of indulgences today! Love those treats! Hopefully, birthday calories just fade away...

Sunday Citar - friendship

Pierre-Auguste Renoir

It's soccer tournament day here so I'm off to the fields soon. Here is my Sunday Citar with a focus on friendship. Visit Fresh Mommy for a treasure of more quotes to enjoy!

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."- Anais Nin

"What is a friend? A single soul in two bodies." - Aristotle

"No soul is desolate as long as there is a human being for whom it can feel trust and reverence." - George Eliot

"Life is partly what we make it, and partly what is made by the friends whom we choose." - Tehyi Hsieh

Happy Sunday, my dear friends!

Friday High Five

Another Friday rolls in and here's my Friday High Five.

WHAT MY BOYS HAD TO SAY ABOUT SCHOOL
AFTER THE FIRST TWO DAYS

1. My 7th grader: "You mean I have to memorize everything for Italian?" He has that class first thing in the morning. I hope he is half awake.
   
   
2. My 4th grader: "I think I can just chill this year." He's my surfer attitude boy. He likes to coast through his day.
   
   
3. My 1st grader: "Real school is a lot of work!" Kindergarten playtime seems like it was ages ago to him.
   
   
4. My 7th grader: "We told my math teacher that we are still in summer mode." I bet a quiz is coming his way soon!
   
   
5. My 1st grader: "Mommy, I love coming home to you." I told you that he's the mushy one!
   

Can you guess which one gets the extra cookie?

Jump over to Angela's Adventures and Minor Mishaps to join the fun!

This song eases the mind and soothes the soul

First day of school craziness is over! The kids' buses were ridiculously late getting home today. My sweet Jillian was not a happy camper waiting for those late buses. We had to run over to the middle school with half of my town to organize my son's locker. Then we were off to the soccer field. My batteries need a recharge. You guys know how I run to my music for a quick rejuvenation. Tonight, I choose Norah Jones' lovely melody to shake my stress off my shoulders. This song always relaxes me. So soothing. I need this kind of lullaby tonight. Have a good night everyone!

Tot Talk Tuesday

This is Jillian with her princess birthday cake. It's all pink, of course!


I hope I'm not too late for Tot Talk Tuesday. The kids' first day of school is tomorrow, and I'm running around like a crazy woman trying to get everything ready.

So here's a quick Tot Talk Tuesday tidbit from my Jillian:

"Mommy, after the brothers get on the big yellow bus, we will have an all girl house. I'm going to put all my baby dolls on the couch. We can have a tea party. It will be nice and quiet."

Jillian does seem relieved and excited to get rid of her brothers for awhile. They have teased her and those precious baby dolls a lot this summer. She probably won't be thrilled when they come barreling home later in the day. I guess we'll have to bring those baby dolls to safety before the boys ambush the house again :)

Visit Niecey's fun blog, The Monkeys and Me, to see what all the tots have to say.

Off I go to get those backpacks ready!

I have a secret...

I'm so excited to share this secret with you! I'm Sneaky Momma's Secret Sneaky Friend today. I answered a bunch of fun and interesting questions from her blogging buddies. Jump on over to Sneaky Momma to read my answers. Happy Tuesday!