Halloween 2016

A little late, but Happy Halloween from our fox and turtle!

The kids had a great time trick-or-treating this year.  Evie wanted to be a sneaky fox.  I’m not very crafty, but she seems to like what we came up with for her costume, and I thought she looked great.  Mitch was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle and he looked adorable!  We went to the annual neighborhood hot dog cookout and then walked around with some of the other neighborhood kids which was a lot of fun.  

 This was the first year that Evie seemed to really care about trick-or-treating.  In years past, we went to a few houses and then she wanted to go home and give our candy.  This year she lasted over an hour and her bucket was over-flowing.  Mitch really surprised me.  He was bound and determined to keep up with Evie and he lasted almost an hour.  He was little shy, but he told everyone thank you.  After we got the kids in bed, Pat declared to was time to ‘inspect’ the candy and taste test some of our favorite kinds.  Parental prerogative!  Evie made out like a bandit.  People were seriously generous with the candy!  And Mitch got a ton of good stuff too.  Pat also found a leaf and a rock in his bucket.  Lol.  Guess he was channeling his inner Charlie Brown!  The kids have been a sugar high since that day so the buckets have been put on a high shelf so that we can monitor their candy intake. Ha!  All in all, it was a great Halloween.  Perfect weather and lots of fun!

Getting used to a new normal

Pat been working nights again for about a month now and for the most part I think it’s going ok.  We still have time together as a family and we try and make it count.  For us, family time has always been about quality over quantity.  Living two hours away from my parents, siblings and other extended family has taught me to make the most of the time that we have and find the ‘something special’ in every day moments.

Pat has started taking the kids for donuts on Friday mornings before taking Evie to school.  It’s a special time that they have together and I know they all have fun. 

Pat even tries an 'adventures' with Mitch at least once a week.   Sometimes after they drop Evie off, Pat will take Mitch to the store to get flowers.  Pat told me that Mitch is so completely cute about it – he has to hold the flowers as they walk through the store and give them to the cashier.  He said the other patrons in the store get a huge kick out of it.  And Mitch is always so proud to ‘give’ Evie and I the flowers.  Sometimes they go to the store to browse the toys or they go the park.  Pat took Mitch to zoo one afternoon too.

This is what happens with Daddy... :)

I thought that the kids might sleep in a little now that they don’t have to go the babysitter each morning, but that hasn’t been the case at all.  Mitch is usually up before me and I get up around 5:30 to get ready for work.  Evie usually gets up before I leave too so I try to get them settled with cartoons and snack downstairs so that Pat can rest a little more on the couch.  Not sure if that works out well or not.  Pat and I discussed changing their bedtime to be a little later, but we both agreed that it probably wouldn’t make much of a difference.  Our kids have always been early risers.

We still have family dinners on Monday and Wednesdays, and even if Pat’s not there, I make sure I sit down with the kids  - no TV, no phone, no distractions – on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday nights.  Friday and Saturday are more relaxed.  Sometimes after the long week, I take the kids out to each on Fridays.  We also have a ‘snack dinner’ once in a while.  I’ll make a smorgasbord of snacks – tater tots, cheese, pepperoni, pickles, edamame, quesadillas, whatever we have – and let the kids eat and snack while watching a movie.  They love it!

Edamame!

 

Kale, tofu and purple rice!

On Fridays since Pat started working, I’ve been letting Evie stay up late to watch a big girl movie with me.  She has grown to LOVE these Mama & Evie movie nights.  It can be a challenge to get Mitch to bed so we can do this, but it’s worth it.  We snuggle under a blanket with a big bowl a popcorn and Evie gets to pick the movie.  Several times I’ve caught her looking up at me with a little grin and then she’ll lean over to give me a big hug and say “I love you Mama’.  It makes me so happy and a treasure these quiet times.   Since Pat tries do special things with just Mitch while Evie is at school so I don’t feel too bad about including him in this time.

Mama & Evie movie night!

We are making this new schedule work, but it isn’t always easy.  I missing having a second set of hands around to help and I know Pat feels the same.  While it’s not impossible to take our kids out by myself, it’s not stress-free.  Mitch likes to run (I swear I’m thinking of getting him a lease) and he really doesn’t like sitting in a shopping cart.  When we got shopping, there is no browsing to be done.  A list is essential so that we can be in and out as quickly as possible.  I really need to up my game and start to do more online shopping.  

 I’m not going to lie… It can be really overwhelming at times to not have Pat there.  I know he feels the same way in the mornings when I’m not there.  In a lot of ways, I think it’s helping us appreciate each other more.  I hope this schedule is only here on a temporary basis.  I hope that new opportunities present themselves so that we can make the changes we really want to make.  But until that happens, we will just keep trying our best to make out current situation work and be grateful for the blessings in our life. 

 

Kentucky Carnival Weekend

I’m a planner by nature, but some of the most fun, memorable and precious moments my life have been spontaneous and relaxed.  This weekend was no exception.  

Friday Pat and I went on a date for the first time in a very long time.  We went to Oktoberfest at the Ohio Expo Center and had a great time – once I was able to unwind a little.  It’s not in my nature to relax much these days.  We got some beer and food and listened to great music and were actually able to talk.  It was great!

Saturday we headed to KY bright and early.  I’m still really, really nervous about exposing my mom to germs so I tried to make sure that the kids washed their hands often and I tried to keep thing picked up.  I tried to tell the kids not to hang all over Kiki, but neither she nor them listened much to me.  What else is new? :)  We decided to go out and see my grandma for a while.  We were going to sit outside because none of us thought it was a good idea for my mom to be inside there.  We pulled up to Highland Crossing and were surprised to see booths set up outside and a big blowup bounce house.  Little did we know, but they were having a carnival!  In addition to the bounce house, there were several games, face painting, cotton candy, hot dogs and chips.  We surprised my grandma when we showed up and she looked pretty happy to see us.  We had so much fun that afternoon and we all did a lot of laughing.  Grandma even won a raffle prize – the Lottery Tree!

After the carnival, we headed back to parents for a low key evening.  Shannon, Chip and Mary Ann came over and the kids ran through the sprinkler and dug for worms.  Holly came over too with Avi and we all enjoyed seeing them.  Avi is getting so big and I had a ball playing with him and hearing his sweet little giggle.  We ordered pizza, caught a little bit of the college football games that were on TV and just hung out -  a perfect evening just spending time together.  It think it was something we all needed after the past several weeks.  

We had to get moving early on Sunday so that Pat could be back for work.  Evie got to go see a play with Grandma Rita.  She loved that and kept dancing and singing the rest of the afternoon.

I’d say this was a pretty great weekend!!

A field trip to Lynd's Fruit Farm

Today was Evie's first field trip with the Tiger class and it was a fun one - apple picking at Lynd's Fruit Farm in Pataskala.  I took off work to chaperone and Evie and I were excited to spend the morning with her class in the apple orchards.  I mentioned before that Pat has been doing drop off and pick up at school and he told me that there was an information sheet on the bulletin board outside Evelyn's room that said we were meeting at the school at 8:30 am.  Strange since school doesn't start until 9:30, but I just figured it was a special day.  So we showed up at her classroom at 8:30 - only to be told we were a full hour early!  Geez!!  A little embarrassing and Pat felt bad for misinforming me, but Evie and I made the best of it and went to Panera 'cause this mama was in serious need of coffee.  Evie chose a Buckeye football cookie (the brainwashing has obviously begun) and we spent the next 45 minutes giggling over Snapchat pictures and having some fun Mama/Evie time.

We finally made it to Lynd's and Evie had a great time picking apples with her friends.  Then they had a lesson on how apple trees are grown and got to sample some apple cider and have a snack.  It really was a fun afternoon and I was happy to meet some of Evie's new friends.  Her teacher Miss Becky told me that Evie is wonderful in class, very helpful and a great friend to the other kids.  Music to my ears!  Let's hope the good reports continue!

Evelyn's First OSU Football Game

Last Saturday was a very special day for Evelyn.  She got to go to her very first Ohio State football game!  She was so excited and she asked me early in the week if she could borrow my buckeye necklace to wear to 'the big game'.  She couldn't wait to see the band and the cheerleaders. ;)
She wore her new OSU dress that Grandma Rita gave her - the perfect choice because it was lightweight and it was very hot and humid outside.  Two temporary tattoos later and she was ready.
I wish I could have experienced the day with her, but I know that she had a wonderful time with her daddy, Grandpa Tim and Lane.  Pat said she was so good and she loved cheering for the Bucks.

The Buckeyes are a huge part of Pat.  He got to go to his first Buckeye game with his dad when he was four (in 1982) and I know it meant a great deal to him to be able to take his daughter to her first game 34 years later (wow!).  Thank you Tim for the tickets and the memories!  The day may have been dampened by rain, but that definitely didn't spoil it - it just added to the excitement.  The Bucks beat Tulsa and a great time was had by all!  O-H-I-O!

Summer Part 1

It’s hard to believe that this summer is coming to an end already.  It feels like it just started!  I always have a certain amount of guilt as a working parent, but in the summertime even more so.  I want my kids to have the kind of carefree, relaxed summers that I did.  Working full-time means that we have to squash a lot of activities into the evening, weekends and the occasional day off.  While we didn’t get to do everything that we wanted, I feel like we made so many good memories and really enjoyed being together.  Which I guess is the most important thing. 

Here’s Part One of a look back over what we did this summer...

Chuck E Cheese!

Last Saturday we attempted to take the kids to Chuck E Cheese.  They had never been before, but Evie had caught the commercial on TV once or twice and begged to go.  We had planned on going for Mitch’s 2^nd birthday, but time got away from us so we decided to treat the kids as kind of an end-of-summer adventure.  Like I said, we planned on taking them Saturday which we came to find out was HUGE mistake.  The parking lot was full and when we walked in the door, we were greeted with complete pandemonium.  While it shouldn’t have come as a surprise to us, we were still taken aback by the sugar-rushed, caffeine-crazed chaos of it all.  Talk about over-stimulation!  We backed away slowly, turned to the kids – and began to bargain with them to skip it and come back another night.  It seems so cruel and we felt so bad, but we knew that if we tried to take them in there, it would have been a mess.  In the end, we were able to convince them to leave with the promise that we would come back on Wednesday when Pat was off work.  Instead we took the kids to the toy store and let them explore to their hearts content for over an hour.  Mitch spent 99% of the sitting in the Power Wheels cars while Evie looked at Pokémon and Shopkins and I think they forgave us for our parenting faux-pas in the end.

 Pat and I try not to break promises to our kids so when Wednesday rolled around this week, we buckled down, took a deep breath and headed back to Chuck E Cheese.  Let me just tell you right now – if you ever want to take kids to Chuck E Cheese, go on a Wednesday.  It was gloriously peaceful.  Well, as peaceful as a place can be when it’s filled with noise from a bunch of arcade games and the glare of 10,000 blinking lights.  The kids had some much fun playing games and riding the little rides.  Mitchell was in heaven mashing the buttons on all the games and he was able to ride a train (it even had steam come out the front!) several times.  Evie and Pat won tickets galore and she and I had a blast playing the Price Is Right Game.  Kiki would be proud of Evie – she was hootin’ and hollerin’ like a maniac when we won.  You taught her well Kiki!  We really did have a great time and kids were very well-behaved.  A great family fun night in the books!

Kiki is the best

Tonight we FaceTimed with my mom.  She's home with Holly and feeling good.  SO GOOD!  I can't even describe how happy this makes me feel.  This weekend scared me.  I've always known that what she has is serious and life threatening, but once she finally started responding positively to her treatments... I guess I didn't focus so much on that.  I focused on how strong she is and how I KNEW that she was going to beat this.  This weekend was the first time in awhile that I was reminded of just how serious this all is, how fast things can change - and just how incredibly strong my mom is. She had been through so much and I'm so happy that she is feeling good, eating more and really excited about the future.

Tonight was also the first time that the kids have seen Kiki since she shaved her head.  We've obviously been selective about what we've told Evie regarding my mom's cancer.  Earlier this year, Evie knew that Kiki wasn't feeling well and she that had to be gentle around her.  When my mom was in the hospital the first time, Evie briefly visited her.  She was a little nervous, but she was determined to see her Kiki.   We prayed for Kiki each night and Evie was so happy when my mom started feeling better.  We spent as much time as possible with my mom the past month because we know that the kids aren't going to be able to be around her much in the next few months.  This weekend, when my mom ended up in the hospital with an infection, Evie knew she had a fever, but that's it.  She was worried, but satisfied when I told her that the medicine was helping.  The day my mom shaved her head, I knew it wasn't something I could just not mention to Evie.  She would notice and ask questions so I told her the truth - Kiki took medicine that made her hair fall out.  She gasped, but didn't say anything (shocking if you know our Evie).  I told her that it was ok.  Kik was feeling better and she had some cool caps and a wig to wear.  I started to explain what a wig was and she interrupted me with "I know what a wig is!".  Later, when we Facetimed, Evie wanted to see Kiki immediately.  My mom was wearing a cap and Evie said "Kiki - you're Baldy Sue!".  My mom cracked up and Evie begged to see her head.  I kept quiet and my mom told her maybe next time.  And that was it.  Evie wanted to tell Kiki about her Shopkins and school and show off the Pokemon shirt Evie got her.  Mitch wanted to act like a maniac and show off his school bus shirt (that Kiki and Pops gave him).  Everyone laughed and enjoyed the all too brief interaction we got.  In the end, it was a Facetime call like all the others - chaotic.  The kids didn't care that Kiki doesn't have hair because ...she's KIKI.  They don't define her by her hair.  They define her by the love that she gives to them.  Kiki could have 10,000,000 hairs or zero - to them it doesn't matter.  As long as she loves them - and that's a given - they don't care.  After we got off the IPad, I told Evie that it was ok that Kiki didn't have hair.  She was still so beautiful and wonderful.  Evie looked at me like 'Duh!"  She said " I know Mama.  Kiki is the bestest, most kindest, nicest Kiki ever!"  Well said my sweet girl.  Truer words have NEVER been spoken. 

She loves the Pokemon shirt Kiki got for her

So much happiness and love

A few hours with Mom

I went to Cincinnati for a few brief hours to visit my mom yesterday.  It wasn't long enough, but it helped me to see her, like a balm to my aching heart.  I may be 35 years old, but being in my mom's presence still fills me with the same feelings of reassurance that it did when I was 5.  I hope it helped her a little to have me there.  My sisters and brother have all done so much during this time and often I feel lacking.  I do what I can, but I know it's not enough.  Thank goodness she has all of them.  I was happy to spend the morning and afternoon sitting with her and my dad.  I was able to make her laugh with stories of the kids and we walked the halls a little bit.  We even Facetimed with Pat, Evie and Mitch.  The kids were nuts as usual, but they brought a smile to both my parents faces.  They don't understand what's going on.  Evie knows that Kiki isn't feeling well.  I told her that right now Kiki has a fever, much like Evie did a few weeks ago.  Evie remembers having a fever and how badly she felt so she can empathize with Kiki.  She asked if there was medicine that would make Kiki feel better and I told her there was and that I'm sure she would be feeling better very soon.  I hope that's true.  Then we said a prayer. 
I won't be able to go back until next weekend.  :(

Thank goodness for Facetime