Today we headed to an Arboretum near us with our playgroup. It was having a treehouse display that the kids could explore. The girls actually had a great time just running around and playing with their friends. Even B loved the freedom of just wandering.
There were hammocks to play in, turtles flipping on a log, treehouses to climb, mazes to explore...but the highlight of the day in our house was the dead butterfly they found on the trail. Such nature lovers.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Our fashionista
Mags is a bit, shall we say, picky, when picking out outfits for the day. She must, personally, go to her closet, look at all her dresses (she really refuses anything but dresses or pjs), and pick one. With Maura, she could care less what she is wearing, so that makes it extra weird with mags. We may go through 9 or 10 choices before she picks one.
Even after she finally picks one, she may decide to change her outfit multiple times before we leave the house. It is almost a given that by day's end she will have gone through at least 5 outfits. She even wants her panties to match her outfits, that means pantie changes are also common. It was quite cute, then laundry day comes... not so cute. Or, the melt down comes when the dress she wants is in the laundry... not pretty. I don't think Maura really even knows what clothes she owns... so not true of mags. She remembers.
She is also quick to comment on your outfit. "Are those new shoes Mommy?" "Why did you change your shirt?" She always compliments strangers and friends on their outfits.
When I bring home a bag of clothes (all too often) for the girls, Maura just looks at the bag and is annoyed if I ask her to try something on. She wants to hold it up against her and measure it. Mags will take everything out of the bag, ask who it is for and try it on. She even goes over to the counter, gets a chair to climb up on, gets on the counter, grabs scissors and cuts off the tag... not cool when I want to return something! Can't imagine the high school years if this keeps up!
Even after she finally picks one, she may decide to change her outfit multiple times before we leave the house. It is almost a given that by day's end she will have gone through at least 5 outfits. She even wants her panties to match her outfits, that means pantie changes are also common. It was quite cute, then laundry day comes... not so cute. Or, the melt down comes when the dress she wants is in the laundry... not pretty. I don't think Maura really even knows what clothes she owns... so not true of mags. She remembers.
She is also quick to comment on your outfit. "Are those new shoes Mommy?" "Why did you change your shirt?" She always compliments strangers and friends on their outfits.
When I bring home a bag of clothes (all too often) for the girls, Maura just looks at the bag and is annoyed if I ask her to try something on. She wants to hold it up against her and measure it. Mags will take everything out of the bag, ask who it is for and try it on. She even goes over to the counter, gets a chair to climb up on, gets on the counter, grabs scissors and cuts off the tag... not cool when I want to return something! Can't imagine the high school years if this keeps up!
Mommy Maura
The girls play house all the time. Somehow, Maura always gets to be the Mommy. Mags seems to go with it, so I do not intervene. When they first started playing and Mags would just call "Mommy" I would answer. She would say, "No, not you, Mommy Maura (or Mall-ya)." Now that is just what she calls her when they are palying house. It is too cute.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Too much vacation???
We just got back from a week long vacation at the Jersey shore. Every year Papa and Mimi rent a house in Avalon, and the whole O'Reilly crew heads down. We had a great time. The house was beautiful. It had a pool in the back yard which provided many hours of entertainment for the girls, and many minor heart attacks for me! From the top deck you had two beautiful views of the ocean. It was just a short walk to a nice wide beach. We were even close enough to walk into "town"... it was just great.
The kids had a blast. It was non-stop stimulation from the time they got up (at crack of dawn-thirty) until the time they went to bed (at way too late). They had so much fun playing with their cousins, from doctor, to house, to Olympic races. They really were non stop. B loved, loved the beach. She enjoyed playing (and eating) in the sand. She loved running toward the waves and chasing the seagulls. The first day we got there, Mags was a little afraid of the water, this wore off by the time Sean got to the beach 20 minutes later. Maura even rode a few waves!
We stayed around the house most of the time, and that was just fine with the girls. They loved watching the sun set and the moon rise from our deck. All the kids would chant together to get the seagulls to fly away. B was fascinated by the birds! B also learned to screech this past week. The first day she did it, she did it pretty much non stop. It was not fun, nor cute. Luckily she is! It has seemed to calm down a bit.
We went to the board walk one night. The girls loved the rides. We went in the huge feris wheel. I was a little nervous (okay real nervous) at the top, but they weren't. From the top of the ferris wheel they saw the log flume. It was a pretty big one, but they wanted to go on. Pat went on with L and C. Sean took our girls. As it was pulling out, Mags started screaming that she wanted to get off. We tried to get the operator's attention, but of course, he was not paying attention. Finally, Sean just put her on the platform, and we eventually got the guy to hand her over. She was flipping out. It took her a while to calm down, but all was well after a merry go round ride. The other kids loved it so much, they went back on it!! What dare devils! After some Kohr Bros ice cream, we headed home in a quiet car.
Mags napped most days. There was one day when she must have been either talking or moving, or both, at all times during the day. She did not stop at all. She was hysterical. I was waiting for the monster of melt downs that night, but surprisingly, it was not too bad (at least in my world). Mo did not nap at all. Well she fell asleep about 15 minutes from ocean city. When I was on the phone telling Sean she was asleep, she, with her head slouched over and her eyes closed, said "no I'm not." The wake up from that was not a pretty sight, but she eventually came around and had a great night. She really was non-stop. While all the other kids napped, she either swam, played with her toys, or went on errands (aka shopping) with Mommy or Mimi. She usually sleeps in in the morning, but did not this week. It was pretty hard to sleep in with all the people in the house. She really got by on much less sleep than normal. I am wondering if tomorrow will be the day she crashes until 10:00 am (or maybe I am dreaming!). Somehow, she really needs to catch up on sleep.
It is always sad when vacation is over. Packing up makes me sad, but it was nice coming home. Maura said last night... "I think I had too much vacation. I am happy to be home." I was happy too. The girls got along great last night. They gave a gymnastics/ballet show on thier stage (aka bench). We played on our bikes and scooters, and went for a walk. Bed time was a cinch (it wasn't always at the shore). And this morning when they woke up (still way too early) they just headed downstairs and read books. When I came down Maura said "See mom we came down stairs and stayed quiet so you wouldn't yell at us." Yell at you??? I never yell!
Welcome Home!
The kids had a blast. It was non-stop stimulation from the time they got up (at crack of dawn-thirty) until the time they went to bed (at way too late). They had so much fun playing with their cousins, from doctor, to house, to Olympic races. They really were non stop. B loved, loved the beach. She enjoyed playing (and eating) in the sand. She loved running toward the waves and chasing the seagulls. The first day we got there, Mags was a little afraid of the water, this wore off by the time Sean got to the beach 20 minutes later. Maura even rode a few waves!
We stayed around the house most of the time, and that was just fine with the girls. They loved watching the sun set and the moon rise from our deck. All the kids would chant together to get the seagulls to fly away. B was fascinated by the birds! B also learned to screech this past week. The first day she did it, she did it pretty much non stop. It was not fun, nor cute. Luckily she is! It has seemed to calm down a bit.
We went to the board walk one night. The girls loved the rides. We went in the huge feris wheel. I was a little nervous (okay real nervous) at the top, but they weren't. From the top of the ferris wheel they saw the log flume. It was a pretty big one, but they wanted to go on. Pat went on with L and C. Sean took our girls. As it was pulling out, Mags started screaming that she wanted to get off. We tried to get the operator's attention, but of course, he was not paying attention. Finally, Sean just put her on the platform, and we eventually got the guy to hand her over. She was flipping out. It took her a while to calm down, but all was well after a merry go round ride. The other kids loved it so much, they went back on it!! What dare devils! After some Kohr Bros ice cream, we headed home in a quiet car.
Mags napped most days. There was one day when she must have been either talking or moving, or both, at all times during the day. She did not stop at all. She was hysterical. I was waiting for the monster of melt downs that night, but surprisingly, it was not too bad (at least in my world). Mo did not nap at all. Well she fell asleep about 15 minutes from ocean city. When I was on the phone telling Sean she was asleep, she, with her head slouched over and her eyes closed, said "no I'm not." The wake up from that was not a pretty sight, but she eventually came around and had a great night. She really was non-stop. While all the other kids napped, she either swam, played with her toys, or went on errands (aka shopping) with Mommy or Mimi. She usually sleeps in in the morning, but did not this week. It was pretty hard to sleep in with all the people in the house. She really got by on much less sleep than normal. I am wondering if tomorrow will be the day she crashes until 10:00 am (or maybe I am dreaming!). Somehow, she really needs to catch up on sleep.
It is always sad when vacation is over. Packing up makes me sad, but it was nice coming home. Maura said last night... "I think I had too much vacation. I am happy to be home." I was happy too. The girls got along great last night. They gave a gymnastics/ballet show on thier stage (aka bench). We played on our bikes and scooters, and went for a walk. Bed time was a cinch (it wasn't always at the shore). And this morning when they woke up (still way too early) they just headed downstairs and read books. When I came down Maura said "See mom we came down stairs and stayed quiet so you wouldn't yell at us." Yell at you??? I never yell!
Welcome Home!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
I'm in timeout!
I am not sure if timeouts work or not. I guess in a way they do; they separate the child from the bad behavior at that minute. However, I do know that my girls know when they are supposed to get them. Twice last week I heard Mags crying. I called in to see what was wrong. Mags informed me of the violation Mo had done to her, and I called Mo's name. She answered me, from the timeout couch!
The next time I heard a brunette crying, I saw a streak of a little blond girl go running toward the timeout couch.
last night I walked in the room to Mags slapping B with the ends to their foam mats. I yelled to Mags to stop. She does, looks at Mo and says, "We have to go to timeout." Mo drops her weapon and off they head to timeout!
How appropriate, as I sit here typing I hear Mags saying to Maura, "Go to timeout or say sorry!" It is not supposed to be an either or, but I will take what I can get.
The next time I heard a brunette crying, I saw a streak of a little blond girl go running toward the timeout couch.
last night I walked in the room to Mags slapping B with the ends to their foam mats. I yelled to Mags to stop. She does, looks at Mo and says, "We have to go to timeout." Mo drops her weapon and off they head to timeout!
How appropriate, as I sit here typing I hear Mags saying to Maura, "Go to timeout or say sorry!" It is not supposed to be an either or, but I will take what I can get.
Future Olympians
Yes, i think we have some future Olympians on our hands. Maura has been enthralled with the Olympics since they started. We watched the opening ceremony, complete with Chinese takeout and a tea party with the tea set Mimi and Papa just got the girls form China. On Saturday we headed to Chinatown to soak up the culture. This was not as excited as Mom thought it would be, however taking the train to get there was... good call dad!
The girls love watching gymnastics. They then put on their new leotards and throw their little bodies all over the place. Maura has declared that she is going to be on the Women's Gymnastics team.. the China one! I tried to convince her the US team would be great, but to no avail.
We just signed Mo up for her first "real" gymnastics class which will start in September. She was very excited to see the gym and all the equipment, even though she has been there before when I coached cheerleading. She is working hard on her cartwheel, and has informed me that she already knows how to do the balance "rope." mags started crying as soon as we walked in the gym; she will not be joining the class anytime soon.
The girls love watching gymnastics. They then put on their new leotards and throw their little bodies all over the place. Maura has declared that she is going to be on the Women's Gymnastics team.. the China one! I tried to convince her the US team would be great, but to no avail.
We just signed Mo up for her first "real" gymnastics class which will start in September. She was very excited to see the gym and all the equipment, even though she has been there before when I coached cheerleading. She is working hard on her cartwheel, and has informed me that she already knows how to do the balance "rope." mags started crying as soon as we walked in the gym; she will not be joining the class anytime soon.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
I don't want to grow up.
Every month on the girls' b-day, they get to pick dinner and dessert. So, for example, every 21st, Mo has her choice. We were just discussing how we will be at the shore for her month birthday this month, so she would be able to pick dinner for everyone there (Sean's whole family). She decided on "Shells." I thought it was a bit strange, until after mags and I harassing her with things like "you can't eat shells" she finally said, "there will be clams in them!" So my 3 year old wants clams for her birthday dinner!!
As we were talking I realized that this would be Mo's last "month b-day" this year. She will be 4 in September. I told her that. At first she was thrilled, then her face changed (note: I am watching all this in the rear view mirror of my Suburban) to a little sad. When questioned, she said, I don't want to turn four. I want to stay 3. I like being 3.
I like you being three too! Why do my babies have to grow up?
As we were talking I realized that this would be Mo's last "month b-day" this year. She will be 4 in September. I told her that. At first she was thrilled, then her face changed (note: I am watching all this in the rear view mirror of my Suburban) to a little sad. When questioned, she said, I don't want to turn four. I want to stay 3. I like being 3.
I like you being three too! Why do my babies have to grow up?
3...2...1
For a few months each years, my gals will be just one year apart (in number). Right now mo is 3; mags is 2, and b is 1. It is kind of interesting the reaction I get when people ask me their ages (and they always do) when I quickly tell them, 3,2,1. It will only be for a little while longer, but until then, it sure makes things simple.
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