Look what Mara came home from school with--

I try not to do posts about - my kids did this, they said that, etc and so on- too much but this was an exciting moment in my daughter's life. Actually, according to her, this is the best day of her life. The school had a reading program where they turn in their minutes and for every certain amount of minutes they get to put their name on a ticket for drawings to win prizes. And VOILA! The Grand Prize Winner.
She is elated. (And those are all flowers in the background, no weeds. Please, don't look too closely. Just trust me.) Her teacher was excited for her b/c she has done some of the most reading of the kids in her class and was glad a deserving student won. She told me the first thing Mara said was "but I already have a bike." Which is true BUT the bike she has my brother won in a contest and is actually a boy's bike. So now she can have the bike of her dreams (streamers, girl colors and everything) and I can save the other for Asher. This is the first bike that she received first hand. Her first 2 wheeler we got from DI. So, not to say she deserves it (don't want to sound too entitled, that's a dangerous thing these days) but, she may appreciate it more than some other kids.

PS Apologies to Audrey, one of Mara's good friends, who Mara told me cried because she didn't win. I'm sorry!

What the ????

Have you ever had to figure out whether your child had chocolate or poop on their hands?

I have.

Chocolate. Whew!

Efforts at conservation

Task One: Do the dishes.
Additional tasks: 2.clean up the spilled orange juice from child pouring their own cup.
3.sweep up the spilled protein drink powder.
4. wipe up the marker on the table, floor, child.
5. Change child's orange juice soaked, marker stained clothing.
Task Two: Fold the laundry. (Note: this does not include putting it away, a whole different task.)
Additional tasks: 2. Put away games dumped out on floor.
3. Clean up contents of piano bench pulled out for discovery.
4. Remake bed that has been made into tent.
5. Clean up spilled dog water.
6. Change child's dog water soaked clothing.

Energy conservation mode:
Sit and read or color with children all day. When your friend(s) come over and see dirty dishes in the sink, a pile of clean laundry on the couch, the baby in a diaper; tell them you are practicing energy conservation.
At the end of the day you only have 2 tasks to complete instead of 11.
Pat yourself on the back for helping the environment and saving your sanity.

The fact of the matter is . . .

I was feeling down and angry at the world so I closed my blog off because I felt that my Q&A was too depressing and well, angry. Now I don't want you to think I had a horrible day or don't love being a mom. These are just thoughts I've had and they were kind of building up. I've mulled it over for a few days and decided to open it up, not delete the post, and if people really want to know the truth without judging me too harshly, well then, there it is.
I have discovered though, how to combat these moods of negativity:
Peace and Quiet.
"What?" you say.
Here is how you get peace and quiet according to Asher. He told me today he knows how to get peace and quiet and showed me how. So, if you need a little peace and quiet, here's what you do:

And this is what Eden is doing right behind Asher.


(That's right, coloring on my piano books. Now you understand why I need a little peace and quiet.)

"Wow"

So, reflections is a national PTA thing where kids use their creative skills (spurred on by mom/dad) to create a project that reflects the theme. This year's theme is "wow". I'm sorry but can you say cheesy? Anyway, Mara wrote a little poem this summer that I thought would be a good starting point for a song. She wrote all the lyrics with a similar theme as the poem and then I had her sing it to whatever melody she wanted. We had her add a bell part as well and voila. . .a song is born. She's no prodigy but it's cute and sweet and she really enjoyed doing it and feels a sense of accomplishment.

(Don't you love my awesome photoshop skills? Hey at least I got the MP3 on here. You have no idea what a task that is. You can't just upload an MP3 to a blog.)

Wednesday's Q&A: Questions to which there is no answer

Q. Why is it that no matter how early I go to bed I still feel tired during the day?

Q. Why is it that no matter how late my kids go to bed they still wake up early?

Q. Why is it that I am such an emotional crier?

Q. Would I be a better mother if I only had one child?

Q. How is it that no matter how hard I try my house is always messy?

Q. Why am I always engaged in power struggles with my daughters?

Q. Why can't people be honest with eachother? Why do we have to be so quick to judge and turn our backs on eachother?
Story: Last week at the library a little girl came up to me and said "Can I be her best friend?" pointing to Mara. I thought it was so cute and sweet but it also made me think about why it is people are so afraid to get close to eachother, let others in, be honest. We all have baggage. We all have issues, things we are working on. What brings us closer together is our ability to share and uplift. There are some women I know that I feel like asking "why is it that you're so afraid to let people in?" Why, when I offer to do some simple thing or to give some little thing you have to say no? Are you afraid of looking weak? Or what it might show about you?
I know this is pretty dull and disheartening but it's what's on my mind.

Wednesday's Q&A: A picture is worth a thousand words

This is a long one but it doesn't require too much reading so don't give up.Also, I'm know I'm no photographer and don't have an artistic eye. Please. It is completely unnecessary to point that out to me.

Q. What do you no longer have to go on a TV talk show to have done?

A. I found this ad in my Sunday paper. That gnawing fear can be cleared up in the privacy of your own home. I love that it says "For Questions only DNA can answer." Really, shouldn't we be able to answer that without the help of DNA? And, it also says "not available in New York State". Why in the WORLD would that be the case? I think they may desperately need it there. Second to Las Vegas, maybe.

Q. Speaking of, what the . . .how is it that your kids have reddish hair? (I get asked this ALL the time.)

A. Once upon a time, Jason had hair. And it was red. I'm glad I have an excuse. I feel bad for all my friends with redheads and no reason other than genetics of course. They get the milkman/postman/UPS guy question A LOT. No joking.Q. Is that Jason with a hair transplant? (Also a common question.)

A. No (he wishes), that is actually my nephew Austin with Eden. But don't worry, even Asher asked if it was dad with hair.

Q. What's Eden so satisfied about in this picture?A. In case you can't tell, she climbed on top of the piano to the treat box I keep for piano students; got a box of nerds and helped herself.

Q. Why is Eden on the TV in this picture? (Is she always climbing?)

A. She is trying to get the CD player on to listen to Hannah Montana. No Joke. So not my child. (And YES, always.)

Q. ON the subject of "not my child", what type of commentary does Mara give as she reads her books?

A. It makes me wonder if my outfits would be "cute" or "not cute".

Q. How can you tell it's cold out and that I'm lonely and bored?

A. I made these chocolate cookies with peanut butter chips despite the fact that we have a whole bowl of Halloween candy. I don't even like chocolate. But these are good. Unfortunately for me. (But good for all the rest of you who secretly wish I would gain weight. Yah, I know who you are.)

Q. What did I find on my counter after Jason cleaned out his old desk?

A. You can see where he likes to eat. (Don't let the picture deceive you, this bag is huge.)

Q. What brought a smile to my face today?

A. Well, many things, but this in particular. My sweet boy did this. He also added dad. He's the bald one in the photo. Notice we are holding hands. I asked him what that was above and he said "you know when the sun goes down and sometimes the sky is yellow and blue and pink." Yes, sweetie, I know EXACTLY what you are talking about.