A Day In the Life...

Everyone knows that some days are better than others. There are, of course, some days that are particularly vexing and challenging...then there are the select few that fall under the coveted category of greatness. What I've learned is that most days have all of the aforementioned components: wonderful moments of bliss combined with low moments of crabby, disgruntled mommy and kids. Today has the makings of just a regular day. Let's explore.

This morning, Julia got up with the sun. After one hour of trying (very unsuccessfully) to get her to go back to sleep, she and Curious George enjoyed breakfast together.

By the time Savanna got up, I was still in pajamas. She ate most of her breakfast on the counter while I got my breakfast and made Pero for everyone. Then she wandered upstairs to let me catch up on my reading (the grocery ads) while I enjoyed my bowl of Honey Smacks. A few minutes later, I heard Savanna crying upstairs, followed by progressively louder wails coming down the stairs. By the time she got to the kitchen, she had started gagging and sounding like she was gonna puke. I ran in to hold her over the sink just two seconds after round one had landed all down her pant legs. I held her over the sink for round two, maneuvering around last night's crock pot still sitting in there filled with soapy water. I thought she was done, so I put her down and took off her clothes while she was secretly getting ready for round three. Back up to the sink for the final act.

I left her in her diaper so that I could finish eating my breakfast and perusing the ads. I finish eating and start making sandwiches to take to the park. The girls start coloring with markers at the table, Julia on paper and Savanna on her legs. Off comes the diaper. "Savanna, you need to leave your diaper on." "Why, mommy?" I put it back on and tell her that she'll go in time out if she does it again. Five seconds later, I am dealing with pukey clothes, and off it comes once more. "Okay, Savanna. Time out." "Nime out? Why, mommy?" I put her diaper back on and take her upstairs, put some pants on her so that she can't get out of her diaper any more. Then I go and start the load of laundry I have been forgetting about for the past two days. I work on the sandwiches, then go and grab Savanna from upstairs. She's standing in her crib sans pants and diaper. I put her in tighter pants and go downstairs to finish making lunch.

After we're packed for the park, the dreaded time has come to get the girls dressed and do their hair. Savanna is already dressed, so one down. Julia cooperates really well and gets dressed while I fix Savanna's hair. While I am doing Julia's hair, she starts playing with my toothbrush. (I don't think anything of it, because this is totally normal. "Mommy toothbrush" becomes a real person, interacting with any other available characters; brush, toothpaste, and spray bottle usually join the cast.) I look up from combing and see J cleaning the mirror with my toothbrush. Okay, no more toothbrush. Then I look over at Savanna, who is still sitting on the counter, and she is dumping my earrings down the drain. She gets ejected from the bathroom while I tweeze the earrings out of the drain and finish up with J.

I switch the laundry and tell J to get shoes on. Savanna, of course, has a shoe missing. Since I can't find it anywhere, I just put her in the matching shoe without a mate. (We had just replaced this exact pair because we lost one of her other shoes somewhere between here and California.) Thank goodness the leftover shoe and the missing shoe were both the left one. We go out to the garage (lo and behold, the missing shoe!) and the girls climb in the car. I get Savanna in her car seat and walk around to buckle J, who locks the door right before I get there. "Open the door." "What, I was just teasing, mommy!" We are finally ready to go when I remember that my clicker is not working. I have to back the car out to the driveway, then go into the house through the garage, shutting the garage door on my way in, and come back out through the front door. At least that's how it's supposed to work. I went in through the garage, and came out the front door when I realized that I had failed to shut the garage when I went in the house (and incidentally also set the alarm.) Repeat steps one through three, and we are officially ready to go. By this time, I have been up for about an hour and a half.

Like I said, just a regular day.

Is "Mommy Time" a Myth?

I don't consider myself to be a very demanding mother. After the girls clean the house every morning, all they have to do is give me a back rub and then they have 1 hour of free time until they need to start making dinner. It's not like I'm asking for the moon or anything, right?

Okay, seriously, though, I think my kids have it pretty good: loving parents, lots of play time, minimal responsibility. Why, oh why, then, when I need a moment to myself, are they unable to deliver? I interact with them all morning while trying get stuff done around the house, I usually sit down with them for breakfast and lunch (and always dinner), I referee when needed, and I even have special mommy time with J during Savanna's nap. Is it enough? Never! All I really need is just a few minutes every day to check e-mail, do discussion questions, etc., and it has become apparent that I cannot do so without being accompanied by one or two very cute (yet very loud) little girls to the computer room. (When I say "accompanied," I really mean that they follow me to the computer room and want to sit on my lap. Or spin my chair. Or ask for something every two seconds.) I've learned that trying to explain that "mommy needs just a few minutes" to a two and four year old is very much like trying to teach a baked potato to be a Camaro; it just doesn't work, no matter how bad you want it. Threats, yelling, or even plain old fashioned ignoring them just don't seem to do the trick. Wherever I go, there they are, unable to give me the only thing I ever really ask of them: a few moments of silence.

So, I've become convinced that mommy time doesn't exist anywhere in the universe, that it is just something put there in the parenting books to make us second guess ourselves and fall asleep every night wondering, where on earth did I go wrong?

Admittedly, the best answer I've ever gotten about the lack of alone time in my life came from one of the very culprits responsible for its painful absence. After sneaking upstairs one day while the girls were playing, I was folding laundry in my room when I started to hear the familiar footsteps up the stairs, and calls of "Mommy, where are you?" Like every other day, they had caught me red-handed in a moment of escape from them. In they trotted, making themselves at home, and I asked Julia in exasperation, "Why do you guys always find me?" She responded matter of factly, jumping up and down on the bed, and said, "Because we love you!"

There you have it folks. It may mean never going to the bathroom by myself again, but I'll take it.

Nasty-Wasty

*Disclaimer: This post is not for the faint of heart, nor those with a sensitive gag reflex. It references the infamous p-word that parents of small children know all too well.

I questioned the wisdom in putting Savanna down for her nap wearing a skirt that gave her complete access to her diaper....I really did. But I was tired, she was tired, and I didn't want to deal with changing her on the off-chance that she took her diaper off. (Okay, the likely chance.) Imagine, then, my non-surprise when I went to get Savanna out of her crib after nap, and the obvious had occurred. I only had to open the door a small crack (no pun intended) and hear Savanna say "Ewww!" to know what had transpired. Diaper off. Skirt still on. Soiled sheets. Mischievous little girl. Gagging mommy. One very small load of laundry. Next time I won't just question the wisdom. I will challenge it completely.

Adventures in Disneylanding

Two Kids. Two Adults. Two Parks. Three Days.

Two $13 Sandwiches. Adventures in Disneylanding: Part One

The time has come for the ever-anticipated, much-awaited debut of our Disneyland Adventures...pictures, anecdotes, general revelry, etc. Since we have sooo many pictures, I am actually doing a 3-part series to represent (you guessed it, you sly fox!) each of the three days we spent at the Magic Kingdom. (And California Adventure...still owned by Disney, only slightly less magic.) So here it is, in all of its spectacular wonder.

On our first day, accompanied by the Grandma and the Grandpa “with the beard on it,” we spent the morning at California Adventure awaiting the much-anticipated lunch with the Princesses at Ariel's Grotto. We rode on Monster’s Inc., Flik’s flyers, Heimleich’s Chew-Chew Train, (Oohh! Mein stomach is so empty!) Francis’ Ladybug Boogie, and Julia rode on the bumper cars with Daddy. After much-needed naps, we headed into Disneyland and spent the rest of the day there.

Julia's first time ever on Pirates of the Carribbean...she actually didn't freak out.

Outside the Monsters Inc., ride...not a favorite. Apparently, she prefers the 2-D experience.

Little Vanna-Boo, the doppelganger

J took this picture of us on the teacups...not too shabby!

Cute girls. (Them, not me.)

Woe is me, waiting for the Princess Lunch.

Who's Pluto again? I don't know, but he's soft and friendly.

Euphoria in an elephant.

That Cinderella character is a little suspicious, don't you think?

Snow White, just biding her time until her Prince comes.

I heard that Belle has a tail as old as time, but I didn't see one.

Sleeping Beauty, just up from her nap.

Fancy Feast at Ariel's Grotto (the kiddy, not the kitty kind)

Lovely chicken prepared by Chef Louis
(I've actually heard that his specialty is stuffed crab.)

Our Fancy Dessert, complete with a white-chocolate Ariel on top.

Julia falling asleep on our way back to the hotel for a nap.
(We had been at CA Adventure for a full 3 and a half hours.)

The Grandpa with the beard, riding on King Arthur's
carousel with the Savanna without the beard.

Lady! Bugs!

We went to California this last weekend (because apparently we find it extremely difficult to stay in one state for extended periods of time...I think it has something to do with lateral gravity) and before our trip out to Disneyland for my birthday, we spent one night at Laura and Amy's new cute house in Riverside. (Please don't stalk them even though I've inadvertently included their first names and city of residence...and the fact that they live in a house.) While we were there, the girls discovered millions of ladybugs in Laura and Amy's backyard, and had so much fun running after them, catching them, and letting them crawl all over their hands. (I wonder what it is about ladybugs that makes them tolerable enough to crawl on us? And why it is that ladybugs are the only insect that Uncle Michael is not allowed to eat? Perhaps we'll never know.) Thanks to Laura and Amy, who braved the windy Southern California cold that I can no longer tolerate, the girls were offered a wonderful sensory experience fraught with ladybugs and aphids a-plenty. (Sorry, kids, no sensory experiences on my watch.) Julia even got to collect some ladybugs in a jar that she heartbreakingly released later on in the day. Here's the proof that there are indeed some bugs that my kids actually like.

Snuggle Bear

Savanna is so soft and snuggly, she doubles as a dryer sheet.

Good Times, Good Times

I'm back-tracking a little bit here, but I simply can't go on without mentioning our wonderful trip to Cedar City at the end of March. Despite the bitter cold (to which we desert-dwellers are sadly not accustomed) we had such a great time and thank Cyndie wholeheartedly for allowing us to completely take over one of her precious bedrooms, (as well as Fan, who was the actual relinquisher of the room) and for welcoming us into her home to eat all of her Cinnamon Life and drink all of her milk. So, Cyndie, we salute you, and dedicate to you this song, from the bottom of ABBA's and our hearts.

Ode to Cedar City
(to be sung to the tune of ABBA's "Super Trouper")

We were sick and tired of traveling
When we pulled into Cyndie's driveway
All we'd done was sit and drive and scream,
Wond'ring why we had come the dam way.

So just when we thought we'd sure be goin' crazy
We got to exit 59.
And we knew that once we got inside
we'd have the greatest time.

We were in Cedar City, home of all the Tracys,
the coolest cats you'll meet.
Where kids can play in the street,
and Pero tastes even more sweet.

Yes, it was Cedar City, where the elk is tasty,
and cereal don't come cheap.
It costs too much to run the heat,
so you sleep with socks upon your feet.

'Riah, Drine and Fan are so much fun,
It's impossible to feel lonely.
Then there's Cyndie who's my number 1
(and not just because she's not homely).

There may be moments when you think you're goin' crazy.
How can it be such a blast?
Pirate Pizza and some Singin' Star,
the time goes by too fast...

When you're in Cedar City, home of all the Tracys,
the coolest cats you'll meet.
Where kids can play in the street,
and Pero tastes even more sweet.

Oh yes, it's Cedar City, where the elk is tasty,
and cereal don't come cheap.

It costs too much to run the heat,
so you sleep with socks upon your feet.

So time was scarce once we arrived.
We had so much to do in 3 short days, like sit
and veg, and maybe watch Twilight...
But I should say,
That you should come and visit us in May!

'Cause it was Cedar City, home of all the Tracys.
the coolest cats you'll meet.
Where kids can play in the street,
and Pero tastes even more sweet.

Oh yes, in Cedar City, all the elk is tasty,
and cereal don't come cheap.
It costs too much to run the heat
so you sleep with socks upon your feet.

Here's Pan in Your Eye!

When Savanna was eating Mac and Cheese the other day, for some reason she got this pan out of the cupboard and put all of her food into it. (So, not only does she like vegetables, but she's got these other kitchen-oriented eccentricities as well. We're still waiting on the results from the pea-related DNA tests.) I thought it would be cute to make a blog post about her wanting to cook, but when I tried to take a picture, she kept putting the handle of the pan in her eye like a silly goose. I know, it's goofy and it doesn't make any sense, but that's what makes her so great. We decided that no matter what the tests say, we're keeping her for sure. (Heck, we'd keep her even if that pan really were sticking out of her cute little eye.)

***WE DON'T HAVE TO BE ROCKSTARS*** (But let's face it...we are.)

Julia and Audrina, our Hannah Montana Wannabies

With these girls, you really do get the best of both worlds.

Who knew such cute girls could rock it so hard?
For girls who like to rock, we salute you!

My (Guitar) Hero.
Need I say more?

Cough Cough. Sniff Sniff. Snuggle Snuggle.

So, the girls are sick, and don't seem to be getting much better despite the fact that they've both been to the doctor in the last few weeks. Ugh! The tricky part is that neither of them is sick enough to be completely lethargic, yet neither of them is well enough to really want to do anything. Except cry. And whine...and snuggle.

Julia feels yucky enough to be continually navigating towards complete reversion to infancy. In a moment of sick desperation the other day, she yelled to me, "I can't walk!" And what do you know, that was the same day she picked "Baby Einstein" to watch in the afternoon...followed by "Elmo's Potty Time," (which, incidentally she was never incredibly interested in when she was actually potty training.) Coincidence? I'm not so sure.

Savanna's coping mechanisms are slightly different. While she's been pretty crabby and working just a little harder than usual to provoke her sister, really all she wants is to be held. Doesn't matter if I'm sitting, or walking, or making dinner, the only remedy she seeks is mommy's arms. It would probably work out better for everyone if I could just carry her around in a toddler- Snugli, now that her usual need for mommy contact has multiplied at least a hundredfold in its demands and frequency. Because putting her down...well, that's just sheer torture.

So, Julia + Savanna + Sickness = Crabby-Snuggliness with just a tad bit of infant-like behavior. Poor sick babies. I really can't blame them...you'd never believe how many times during a typical day that I have the desire to curl up in the fetal position and crawl right back into the womb.

Katie's Top 10 Reasons Why Blogging is Better than Homework

It's almost 8:30 at night, and I am sitting at the computer under the guise of doing homework. Only I'm not doing homework. Why, you ask? Well, it's certainly not because I don't need to do homework...actually, I have to finish a paper on liberalism by tonight. It's really more about how I don't want to do homework. You see, homework is lame. Blogging is better. Here's why:

1. No one grades me on my blog posts. (Well, okay, maybe the 7 of you who actually read this blog are secretly internalizing all of my deficiencies and guarding them in your hearts in a "grade-like" manner. But I don't care. Know why? Because your petty judgments don't affect my GPA.)

2. The blogging-lords do not insist that I create my posts in APA format. No title page. No abstract. No running head. No reference page. You get the point.

3. Liberalism Schmiberalism. Talking about my awesome kids is way more important.

4. History 108, contrary to popular belief, is not a course on the fascinating history of my life. It's not even a course on people I know. (Unless you count King Louis XVI, but he and I were just college roommates, not BFFs. Don't get me wrong, though, I was totally bummed out when he got executed.) If History 108 doesn't care about me, then I don't care about History 108.

5. I can blog without spending $83.64 on a stinking USED history textbook. (Okay, to be fair, it was only $82 before tax.)

6. Blogging helps me to think about the pleasant things in life, like my cute kids and their shenanigans...much more fun than thinking about revolutions and global crises.

7. No due dates on blog posts. I can whip 'em out as fast or slow as I want.

8. Homework assignments never require me to go through the pictures on my computer and find the best one that matches the assignment. (They should, though. I have an adorable shot of Julia inventing the cotton gin.)

9. All of the material for blog posts is already in my head. No reading required. I never have to learn anything new; on the contrary, I can bask in my already-more-than-sufficient wealth of knowledge.

10. Homework is not funny. I am.

Well, that being said, I guess I should get back to it. Homework, that is. You'll just have to wait 'til I'm done for another one of these beauties.

Blogging in the here and now

I was thinking yesterday about my recent blogginess, and I decided that I'm actually glad that the technology for blogging wasn't around until I had more than one child. (Okay, so maybe the technology did exist, but if it did, I sure didn't know about it...heck, we didn't even own a digital camera until right before our second child was born. And I won't even mention how old I was before I learned how to copy and paste.) Really, though, I think about all of the things that are going on with my kids right now (for example, the fact that Savanna is throwing her sippy cup at me because I gave her juice, and she doesn't really want juice, even though that's what she asked for) and I just have to wonder...what on earth would I have written about with only one baby?!

I imagine my posts would have centered on milestones, first smiles, first steps, first words, etc., but I have to admit, I kind of like the fact that I started this whole thing after the funny stories were already being told, the naughtiness was becoming the rule rather than the exception, and the dramas were being unfolded daily. I already look back at my life with one child and think, "wow, I really didn't have any clue what I was in for at all, did I?" Now, if I had a written record of all of my innocence and naivety about being a first time parent, (much the same as I am sure I will look back to this time and wonder how I was so stressed when I had it so easy) I think I'd feel a bit chagrined. Basically what I'm saying is that the built-in craziness of everyday life makes this the perfect season for me to publicly admit to my shortcomings, difficulties and misgivings as a parent...I've already had four years of practice, and that, my friends, has made all the difference.