Daddy's Favorite Number

St. Patrick's Day

Happy Friday!

Not a whole lot of new things this week. Her's 2 things that stand out in my mind...

K was pretty excited on Wednesday. I got home from work & we decided to read a her school library book before heading off to soccer practice. She brought the book to me & hid her school photos underneath it. I asked daddy if he had seen them & he said no, she didn't even mention it. I guess she was holding off until I got home. It was very sweet & a little sneaky, but we all got a kick out of it. I was very happy to see the photo, it turned out great. It was taken right after she lost her first tooth - so there's a little gap in her bottom teeth, but she's smiling!

This morning, Bubs finally slept in - well, for him - until 6:15. The rest of this week he was averaging 5:30!! When he came into my room (I was already up getting ready) to my surprise - he was dressed & ready to go! I gave him huge hugs & said what a nice surprise. I didn't have to ask or remind him to go get changed. - THANK YOU.

FYI - Bubs is still on the same breakfast routine, waiting until everything is set before he digs in. But then this is the only meal he does that for, because his breakfast is pretty much the same from day to day. Then, after breakfast this morning Bubs says "You are proud of me, right mommy? I got dressed all by myself this morning." Of course I am! Hope he does it every day!

Daily Breakfast Routine

Now that we are in a weekday morning routine, I’ve noticed that Bubs is very specific in what he likes in the morning. And how he likes it given to him. He’s quite an eater in the morning. Once he wakes up, the first thing that he wants to do is eat. He sits at his seat at the table and rolls off what he wants to eat. Its almost always the same thing every day. I want…”Granola Bar, cereal with milk, and gogurt.” Now, because of grandpa, we also have Entemann’s Donuts, so he also wants a donut. I start pulling out his food. There’s the cereal with milk and gogurt. I get distracted & do something else, but he just sits there. I tell him he can start eating & he’ll say “I’m waiting for the granola bar & donut. So I give him the granola bar and he still sits. I notice that he won’t start until everything is laid down in front of him. So finally, I give him ½ a donut & he starts to dig into his cereal. Silly routine, but its his routine. I’ve learned to wait until everything is out before I put milk in his cereal. Nobody really likes mushy wet cereal do they??? Believe it or not, Bubs eats everything. And he even asks for a piece of toast on the way to school. He’s not even a teenager yet & he has quite an appetite! At least I don’t have to worry about him getting his most important meal of the day.

I just have to work on K eating a better breakfast on a regular basis.

Religious Education Classes

Last night K went to her first Religious Ed class up at our church. Its going to be once a week for 27 weeks. I was a little apprehensive about putting her through another afterschool activity for her already seemingly busy week. But this is the most important activity. Days before the class we talked about how she's going to learn about why we go to church, some new prayers and songs, do activities, & meet new friends. She met her teacher & the other students last night and I left her for her 1 1/2 hour class. We found out that she already knows 3 of the kids out of 10 in her class. 2 live down the street from us. Yesterday she learned about "Forgiveness."

This morning she woke up & out of the blue told daddy, "I wish I could go back to church everyday."

The words we really wanted to hear! Glad she enjoyed it.

Missing Daddy

Sunday morning, Bubs crawled into bed with me, too early for a Sunday! 6:30 am. Somehow I managed to lay in bed & rest until 6:50 when he just couldn't take it anymore. He was hungry & he wanted to watch TV. I said we had to get up & get ready to go to the A's game.

He asked if daddy was coming home.
I said no, sorry, Daddy's in Cleveland.
He then asked if he was going to go to the A's game.
I'm sorry Bubs, he's far away, he can't go to the A's game. He's going to the Steeler football game.
Oh, then who is goin' to cook our food?

:)

Daddy always grills when we tailgate. I said that Uncle S & Grandpa could cook his hot dog. Would that be OK?

And he smiled.

Chocolate Milk

Weekends usually mean the kids might get a treat of chocolate milk with breakfast. Sometimes when we pick up a kids meal from a fast food place, we pick the chocolate milk as a drink option. Then I usually 1/2 & 1/2 it with regular milk, because its so strong. On Saturday morning, Bubs knew there were 2 bottles in the fridge from earlier in the week. I said sure, he could have the chocolate milk. But for some reason I looked all over the fridge for it could not find it. I ended up calling daddy (who just left that morning to Cleveland for the weekend) to find out where it went. Well, uh, he took them this morning for he & his friend to take before their flight. I put Bubs on the phone & he said "I'm mad at you daddy." He was upset that his milk was gone! But mommy saved the day - luckily we had some Hershey's syrup in the fridge!

We will never forget...

No more TV before school.

One day after school started, K came home & told me that she shouldn't watch TV in the morning before school. Mrs. Brown said so. That she needs to get her mind ready for school & that she should read to warm her mind up.

Thank you Mrs. Brown!

At Back to School Night the teacher told us that the first day, she asked the kids how many of them watched TV in the morning before school. Over 1/2 the class happily raised their hands up high. Good, I was not alone! I've always hated having the TV on, but with a 4 year old who wakes up on his own before 6am, I was not sure what to do with him, while I was still getting ready. I always thought that was the easiest solution. But, as of last Friday, things have changed in our household. I told both of them no TV before school starting Monday.

So, the night before - I lay their clothes out in their room. When they wake up, thats the first thing they do - get dressed. Then they sit at the table & eat their breakfast while I turn on the Ipod to the K&Bubs playlist. When Bubs asks "What do I do now mommy?" I ask him if he has his hat & book for school. Please brush your teeth. If then there is still extra time - find something to do. I've praised them everyday for getting ready & out the door without any hassles. With extra time - I've found them dancing to the music, putting a puzzle together, & today Bubs colored a picture for his teachers at school. There haven't been any struggles. They have been getting a better more fullfilling breakfast. We've been early to get out the door every day. And we are all pretty much in a good mood!

I told K that I really like our mornings & thank you - its easier to get out of the house. She said "Yeah, because you don't have to do much anymore." That's RIGHT! She's a big kid now (a FIRST GRADER) and she should be doing these things herself. Bubs too!

Thank you again Mrs. Brown.

The Tooth Fairy Comes

After hanging on by a thread all day Saturday...Twisting it out & around & making me squirm - the tooth finally broke free while K ate a bagel w/ cream cheese for lunch on Sunday. Nonchalantly she said "Mom, my tooth came out." What, are you serious? Lets take a look. And sure enough I grabbed the camera & took a couple photos. Wouldn't you know. This was just after her soccer photos, but before her school photos Friday. She has the beginning of a new look. She was excited to be the first one in her 1st grade class to get added to the chart of lost teeth during the school year. She had me write a tooth to the tooth fairy & then she signed it & drew the cutest picture of a "Tooth Fairy."

And the tooth fairy was nice to her that night. One gold & one silver dollar coin & one bigger 1/2 dollar. The clanking of them all together was like magic to her! The tooth fairly also left her a note that said "Dear K, Congratulations on losing your first tooth! It looks like you have taken real good care of your teeth. Keep up the good work. Sweet dreams. Love, The Tooth Fairy." She was so excited she took the note to school to show some of her friends. One of her comments was "I didn't know if the tooth fairy was really real, but now I know it is!"

Of course today, Bubs asked me about fairy's and if they were all big or small & if they only came if he lost teeth. He says he's all ready to be grown up. I sense a little jealousy that he wants a surprise of coins under his pillow!

It hits again...

So, just when I thought all was well - Bubs came down with the stomach flu on Wed night. He also had a recurrence days later on Saturday. We thought he was well so we took the kids to their first soccer games. K at 10:30 - she won 3-1 and her ball into the net was just foot away from scoring another goal. Bubs game was at 1:30 and it was HOT - 97 degrees. His team was winning 5-0 when they stopped the game because of the heat. We came home & then he threw up. I tend to think that it was partly because of heat exhaustion.

Unfortunately that incident kept him home the remainder of the weekend to get well. He was so sad because that meant he had to miss Grandpa's birthday celebration. Both kids had been counting down the days until they could go to Grandma & Grandpa's house. See their cousins & play in the sprinklers. I just wouldn't wish this stomach flu on anyone. It seems to spread like the wildfires in California!

Except for P & I complaining about upset stomachs off & on all week, I think we have had the worst of it come & go. I am scared to find out what the rest of the year has in store for us. I pray that this is it!

Attack of the stomach flu!

K was unfortunately hit by the stomach flu Friday. I really thought I was passed the yucky throw up stage, but when it hits without notice, things get messy. K was woken up by the vicious flu at 1am Friday night. That kept me up most of the night, cleaning, doing laundry & waiting for it to attack again. And a couple times that night it did. She was able to recover & relax all day Saturday. When we thought all was better, it had been over 24 hours since the last attack, we went to the A's game on Sunday.

It was a fun day - backpack giveaway - so we got there early. We went all the way down to the first row & watched batting practice up close. The kids also got an autograph from Gio Gonzales. It was just the 4 of us and it turned out to be a relaxing day at the ballpark. Until the 3rd inning when the unfortunate flu hit again - all down the front of her A's white cheerleader dress. K apologized over & over again "I'm sooo sorry, I didn't know that was going to happen." I felt so bad for her, she was more upset than all of us. That was the end of the game for us & we headed home to rest another day.

Luckily, Labor day was Monday & the kids & I spent the day resting some more. (Daddy unfortunately had to work) She lived off a diet of toast & water, but really didn't each much. Tuesday morning she woke up & said her stomach hurt. I laid my head on it to listen & have never heard such grumbling! Her stomach was really doing a number on her. I was so afraid to send her to school & called Kaiser to talk to a nurse. They convinced me to come in - I guess to check to see if there was any dehydration. I did find out that the Dr. had seen 3 children earlier that morning with the stomach flu. No kissing on the lips for K! No sharing cups, food, etc. Let cross our fingers and pray that we successfully averted the rest of the family from getting this nasty bug.

Unfortunately the 4 days at home was somewhat enjoyable for her. Rest, do nothing, and watch TV. Right before going to bed last night she said, "Mom, I don't want to go to school tomorrow." I'm sorry sweetie but you have to go, you are better now. Don't you miss your new teacher & new friends? Just think, only 3 more days of the week, then its the weekend & we get to celebrate Grandpa M's birthday! That convinced her. Luckily she woke up this morning & did not mention not wanting to go to school again. Her appetite is back (although we are still taking it very easy) and she's back at school. Happy Hump Day!