7yo eats really healthy foods, and enjoys raw veg and delicious proteins. But he is a stalwart refuser-guy for trying new foods. We stopped eating boxed cereals a while ago and I tried a few options for fun, real food breakfasts. To no avail. 6yo would happily eat porridge three times a day, 6 days a week, but 7yo will barely look at foods outside of his limited experiences. Infuriating, yes? I have been incrementally including foods that he hasn’t tried, and it’s really only been effective in pissing us both off. Last week 7yo refused to eat a cup of strawberry yogurt. It was seriously, THE dumbest situation ever. Strawberry yogurt, not dog poop laced with strychnine. In the end, or rather, near the end, after he ran off crying and then came back to try again, he was faced with not going on a field trip if he didn’t eat that fucking yogurt. In the end, we had a spoonful each until the damn thing was empty. Now we play the Weird Al song EAT IT almost every meal time to encourage him to eat his food and also to make fun of him, and also to make meal times fun, because that’s what it should be, rather than crying over the ever-loving YOGURT!
I told him tonight, when he rolled his eyes and put his poo boots on because his CHICKEN was touching his LETTUCE, that every wednesday he will have to try a “new food”, read: a food that we have been eating for the last 6 years. Tomorrow, he has the choice of pumpkin soup or more yogurt. He chose the yogurt. Glutton for punishment? Unlikely. He has requested the “white yogurt”, which is 90% the same as the brand that we used to buy a few months ago but has discontinued the vanilla, for reasons unknown. We will see how that goes. It’s “late start Wednesday” tomorrow, so there will be plenty of time for mooning over the yogurt before it’s time to get in the car. Also, all the kids are at school tomorrow, so after I work out my frustration at the gym, I will be free to pull out my hair and roll my eyes to my hearts content.
Running for me life
So I did the color vibe the other day, but all my friends pulled out! I found a few others but lost them, so I was sort of destined to walk with my head down for 5km. But my internal dialogue prevailed, and I jogged the whole bloody track! I felt like a super hero.
“I dont have to be fast, I dont have to be fast”;
“just keep going, just keep going”;
“nearly done, nearly done”;
“wait, that was only one mile?! “;
“it’s got to be soon, it’s got to be soon, it’s got to be soon”;
“There it is! There it is!”;
“I can do this, I can do this, I can do this”;
“just keep going, just keep going”;
“I can’t believe I did that!”; and my personal favourite:
“I could probably keep going”.
I got to sit down for the rest of the afternoon as the weather was nice and the boys were riding bmx. I really need a live-in masseuse, though.
Happy Anniversary Darl
Husband tells me this morning that it is our anniversary, and he is right! 9 years ago, today, I proposed to this hot guy with no beard, and he said no! But he changed his mind and here we are. He has organised our babysitter for tonight and is taking me on a surprise date. I have to dress casual, but I can wear a skirt, so that means we aren’t going rock climbing. We could be doing mini golf, or a movie date (unlikely, Husband hates wasting the babysitter for the cinema), late night shopping (also unlikely given our downtown), I’m out of ideas already. Rollerskating is only on friday nights, and we usually get a bit dressed up to go to a restaurant. Unless we are going to five guys. Hmmm…
We have had plenty of adventures since we met, like getting married and having 4 kids and moving overseas in an 8 year period; renovating half of a house and half of an apartment, motorcycle lessons, pilot lessons – for him, a few overseas holidays and not losing our (my) minds raising these boys, among them. It’s a full life we lead, that’s for sure!
Right now, I’m on the sidelines at the pool, big boys having swimming lessons and the widdle monkey asleep on my lap. I feel really uncomfortable, I hope that won’t affect my level of enjoyment, later. I wonder if we are going to get a couple’s massage?
Holy crapstix, I look old
A Tall Tale
6yo’s birthday party was postponed since his birthday was the 2nd week of school. Being kindergarten, I thought I should let the families new to school and the class social network settle in before sending out party invitations. Now the party is in a few days and I am pretty well organised, so far.
6yo decided on a Mater Tall Tales theme. I try not to use all the pre-packaged stuff because I want to show the boys that we can make our own stuff, reuse what we have and not give in to merchandising bullshit and still have a great time. Of course, I did buy some stuff, but the plate/streamer/napkin/cup/everything else packs are not for me. We have plain plates and napkins, and will use whatever cups we have in the house; there will be no table cloth and I have bought plain decorations for around the house.
I have always made the boys write their own thank you cards since they could scribble with something, and 6yo has been diligent, if a little whiny, about doing some every day after school.
Along the homemade line, we have opted for brown paper “rusty” treat bags with Mater’s eyes blinking out, and the same for the thank you cards, and the same for these babies:
They are a bit annoying to put together, but they are definately worth it!
I stuck the eyes on them all today while everyone was at school, and will save folding the rest until after bedtime.
There is a shit ton of adorable party hats
I am going to make tow hooks for everyone to wear, and will use party string to tie them around people’s arms, just like fairy wings would, then I will just tape the “hooks” on.
And then, I couldn’t think what else to put in the treat bags. Thank you cards, the candy cane, I did order some Mater pencils and stickers (it is for kindergarten kids) and then I came up with the best idea ever!
Badges!
I made them with resin that I bought at Michaels, and added bits and pieces for
Junkyard Badges!
Some of the resin overflowed, so these two are stuck to the chopping hoard. Lucky I used one!
For food, we are having – wait for it – “Mater Tots”. Love it! There will also be “traffic lights”, also known as 3 coloured melon balls on a stick, “rusty wheels” aka Mary’s Crackers, Guido’s “Pip Stop” aka olives, “dip sticks” – pretzel sticks dipped in chocolate, and a chocolate cake – sans icing, I think – with Mater eyes on there somewhere. Husband is going to have some beer flavours for fellow parents to sample, as well, and I think that’s it.
The excitement is building here at Mater Central! I will be sad if no one wears my hats, but 6yo loves them, so everyone else should follow suit.
Risky Business
I know it’s super annoying to have the flappity-flap of something on the roof or side of the car, but to me, it’s worth it if the youngen sleeps for a bit longer because the sun isn’t beaming straight on his lids. On the other hand, Husband nearly cut off my damn fingers with the window when I was arranging it, because he “thought I was ready”. I know he would hate spending the extra time if we had to go back and pick my fingers up off the side of the highway! So much for “making incredible time”, George Costanza-style. Then it would be more a case of Seinfeld and “that stupid idiot”. Egad.
Happy Crappy Birthday
After being super busy at work all week, Husband’s team has a rugby tournament interstate, so we hauled along with him. We decided it would be worth the drive to hang out a little, and trade rain at home for rain somewhere else, and try our hands at other bmx races.
Sleeping in hotels is supposed to be fun, but when we are booking these crazy adventures, we forget that sleeping in hotels with our kids is sort of a chore. Pillow fights aside, bad pillows and poor mattresses, loudly random a/c units and wine in plastic or styrofoam cup-type chores.
Anyhoo, after braving the roads and the “how much longer ” s, the “he won’t give me” whatevers and the “he’s looking at me”s, we made it to our destination and had a fun time at the local track. Husband was busy with the team so we kept ourself busy at the park and at dinner. But today is Husband’s birthday, and it’s been a good day for him but a crappy birthday. He won’t have a confortable night sleep all weekend; he doesn’t get to sleep in the same bed as his lovely wife – though he does get a bed to himself; he doesn’t get any presents (at least until we get home); he has his celebratory drink in a clear plastic cup while his lovely wife doodles online for christmas cards and bmx tracks, and he will wake up to a mediocre pancake breakfast downstairs in the lobby. Boo friggity hoo.
Husband actually forgot my birthday when we got married, and last year I had a particularly lame non-celebration of my birthday. This year it appears to be his turn. But it’s not all bad. Tomorrow he can wake up somewhat refreshed after not being kicked in the junk all night after sharing a bed with his 6yo (tonight that’s my job, sans junk), rejoice in yet more rugby; drive 5 hours home to a bunch of thoughtful gifts, sing ‘the hills are alive’ in the green green backyard after opening his presents; enjoy his beverage of choice in glassware of his choice and repair to his chamber with his lovely wife.
Happy Birthday Husband, luv ya guts. And ya beard.
Hooting and Hollering
This is me, bad lighting and messy hair aside. I am not enormous; I am shapely. When I go shopping I should not have to avoid the jean section so I don’t cry myself to sleep at night. I should not see a potential camel toe when I try on ‘modern fit, low rise’ pants and still see bum cleavage in the rear view. I should be able to cover my shapely bottom in denim without having the zip come to my bra. This is why I make lovely skirts instead.
Go phark yourself, fashion industry.
Happy Monday
Boys in school.
That is cool except
I nearly burst my ear drum
From the awesome fun
Of cranking music in the car
So ridiculously far
That it would be heard
By every bird
Near and far from my car.
My ear is still ringing!
I have 6 hours of singing
Until I do the school pickup
And hear the boys hitch up
Their nagging and fighting
Then I will be sighting the clock
And picking up shoes and socks
For four more hours til bedtime,
Then perhaps whiskey and sours.
#poetryinvitational
Early Birds
Early birds catch the worm because they are up at sparrow’s fart when the worm is counting on having more time to itself, for sleeping. Nearly 4yo woke me up at 5.30 this morning to go to the bathroom. I honestly thought it was about 2am. I also honestly thought that he might use the bathroom that is a mere 6 feet from his bed, rather than come downstairs and wake me and then demand I accompany him to the bathroom at the other end of the house. Afterwards, I managed to convince him to go back to bed, but thought better of it myself because in the past, I have felt worse after trying to go back to sleep, than I did after waking early. And so that was my dilemma this morning. I stayed up and did some sit-ups. I so easily could have just closed my eyes when I rested between more heinous crunches, but I persevered and heard the other boys a mere 30 minutes after sending my widdle sausage back to bed. Lucky for me I didn’t try for an extra doze!
Now IF the boys had stayed asleep, what might I have been able to do with my extra time, which could have been up to 90 minutes? I could have unpacked and repacked the dishwasher, but that is now on the morning schedule for the boys; I could have started a new book, but that would inevitably make us late for school as studies have shown in the past; I could have made some baked goods, but studies have also shown that my boys decide they don’t like something after I make it a few times, so forget that! And also, I don’t need the temptation. Laundry? Sewing? No, too noisy. What and exciting life I lead. I am here, frittering away my free time by wondering what to do with it. I can hear one of the roosters crowing, so I can guess what he would do with his spare time…
Canna getta hella YES
It’s Friday and there have been 3 days of school and now we are bouncing around without knowing what to do, or being dissatisfied with our options. I may or may not have housework to do and perhaps I pine after my book or to finish that hat I’m working on. Inevitably, there are interruptions if I do settle on something, and they are indicative of the life I lead…
Reasons Why I Rarely Ever Finish Anything:
* Someone needs to go to the bathroom but refuses to do so by themselves
* Someone has waited too late to go to the bathroom…
* Someone wants to help me clean up, therefore there is now twice as much to do after every act of cleaning
* Someone has stopped being interested in helping me clean up, so I need to start over
* I should put on the washing machine to wash while I do (insert repetitive task), therefore I need to gather, sort and convene all dirty clothes in the laundry
* Someone had an accident in their bed thay was not mentioned which I find while collecting dirty laundry upstairs
* Someone didn’t flush the toilet upstairs since last night. Cheese and rice, the stink! Open all windows and power clean upstairs bathroom
* Mini-clean all toilets since I have the gear in my hands now
* Do that load of laundry from 2 hours ago
* Go to the bathroom myself
* Interrupt constant bickering
* Sort through laundry in my own bedroom after walking towards the bathroom intent on a shower
* Tidy my wardrobe after putting away clothes
* Yell at someone to make their own bloody snack
* Admire handmade jewellery from 3 weeks ago, being thrust threw the open door while I shower
* Attempt nonchalant conversation with Husband while trying to hide the mess
* Give over in favour of wine.
I don’t usually have wine until dinner, but almost poured myself a glass after the school pick up. Nothing nonchalant about that!
4 Princes and Me 