Our Kids

Seems every time you turn around you are challenged with some parenting dilemma you had not considered. The other day Piper and Lela went home with a friend that I felt I had vetted sufficiently and then her mom called and asked if they could go swimming. What?? I was unprepared for that scenario since I did not say they could, did not send suits and it was cold out but c’est la vie I handled it poorly and learned my lesson to be better prepared with folks that have a pool:)

Then here we are planning a wonderful easter and stuff starts happening. First of all the girls wrote the bunny a letter on Thursday and put it outside for him to pick up. So of couse I picked up the letter and left behind a little gift. Then they wrote another letter but I made them wait to put it out until Saturday night. Then some time late Saturday Piper told me what the notes said. They had asked EB to bring them a specific stuffed animal from Target. Gah! What to do? Am I ready to disappoint them? Am I really going to go and buy 40 worth of stuffed animals when I just that day donated two garbage bags full? What happened to Easter? When did it become Christmas? I suppose when you have gifts and trinkets coming at you from all directions it is hard not to see it as a time of rebirth and renewal and a time for gifts. Maybe we will have to formulate our plan for this holiday a little better next year;)

Well the answer was it was all of us. Since the crankiness was limited to Phoebe, Landis and myself I figured I might have been influencing their attitude for the day. Saturday I got up to run and meet my friend for breakfast and I almost fell off the toilet because I was so dizzy. When I grabbed the sink to keep from toppling I realized I was kind of queasy too. Then Landis woke up and threw up and Phoebe had some weird smelly poo(s). So I am guessing we all caught a bug. Lucky for us it was all over by Sunday but we were a bit of a mess on Saturday:)

The girls participated in their second Pat’s run this year running the entire .42 miles in to Sun Devil Stadium. They really enjoyed themselves despite the overcrowded corrals and hustle and bustle of the run. Piper almost got shoved down (good thing I was holding her hand the entire run) and Lela got an elbow to the face. Hmmmm….not sure we will repeat this event unless they make some big changes. You expect a little hustle and bustle but really folks can you spread it out a little more or something.

On the plus side it was a nice day out for the family and we got to take the light rail which everyone enjoys. I think it was a positive experience for them and that is what I am trying to instill with exercise so you can’t beat that. Plus they had just seen me in a race so I think they liked the idea of doing it too.

Well today is Cranky Crabby Wednesday! Landis and Phoebe have both been so crabby today that is has me sort of beaten down. In my defense I have been back on my workout schedule which includes a 415 wake up call every day plus I gave up my beloved soy chai and my evening chocolate. All that is bound to make me cranky. So I am wondering this afternoon are they making me cranky or am I making them cranky? I think I better do a chakra cleansing this evening so that tomorrow doesn’t go so badly:)

Landis is and has been chowing down on dinner tonight, wahoo! She is lovin’ the green rice and the salmon. Craaazy times I tell ya! She is not loving the broccoli but she did drink a spinach smoothie today and have broccoli and noodles for lunch with cucumbers so I can’t complain. I don’t know if I am starving the girl or wearing her down, either way I chalk it up for a WIN for me:)

Lela of course says she doesn’t like the salmon but ends up eating it after she eats everything else on her plate. Piper loves salmon and broccoli and the green rice.

For those of you wondering the green rice is swiss chard (kale or other sturdy green) steamed for a few minutes and then pan sauteed with brown rice and garlic. Some top it with soy sauce and some not but all think it is delish!

I was at my friend Mary’s the other day and she has twin girls that are a bit older than my twins. Anyhoo, I spied a picnic table and a sand and water table and asked if she was still using them. Knowing her girls, both their height and their interests I was betting that she didn’t use them anymore and I was right! Of course I offered to buy them and score, they are now on my patio. Landis has been playing in the sand and water table most of the morning and she noshed at the picnic table on her lunch. Sweet! I love a good deal and good fun;) Phoebe is up from her nap and after a quick lunch at the picnic table she is now enjoying herself at the sand and water table. Ahhhh……life is good:) Thanks Mary, you get an A in my book:)

We had Noa come and stay with us over spring break. Noa is 11 and has a cell phone. Lela was enraptured with the phone and the thought of having one of her own. Not a bridge I am willing to cross at this point so I mostly just uh huh’d and we’ll see’d all weekend. She got one of our old abandoned phones and carried it around and used it whenever Noa used hers and then some. Here are some funny pics of Lela on her “phone”

Texting at Amococo
Such a grown up:)

It’s amazing that a blank screen can hold so much interest for a little girl, lol.

Landis is really coming in to her own personality wise. She is kind and has a strong independence streak that butts right up to her totally dependent streak. She likes to play by herself but is equally at home playing along side her sisters in whatever game they come up with. She likes to play with Phoebe and now that Pheebs is walking I am sure they are going to get in to all kinds of mischief.

Landis is still really in to dresses and skirts or dresses with skirts. Lately she has been adding headbands, necklaces and even rings to her outfits. In other recent developments she is adding pigtails or braids to her fashion repertoire. I think this sort of came about because when she is upset at night because she has to go to bed (which is almost every night these days), her daddy sits with her on her bed and plays with her hair and braids it. This relaxes her and allows her to get ready to fall asleep. You can still find her most nights after midnight snuggled up right next to her daddy. Often times I wake up in the night to see both of their beautiful faces peering at me over Phoebe’s little bald head, so sweet. Landis is so lucky to have such a wonderful father, I sort of pity the fellow that comes and tries to take his place in her heart.