"Perfect" Timing

The school coordinator just came into my office to tell me that we are going to begin to transition the kids to their new (and separate) classrooms next week and they will be in them full-time the following week (eeek). He went to speak with their teachers about their readiness (since children usually aren't transitioned until they are at least 3 but with school starting it works out better to do them earlier). The teachers for both kids said that they were more than ready to move to the next classroom, and in fact probably needed to be in the "back building" which is for the older children where they begin to learn to read and identify sight words and have more of an academic focus (and rest time instead of nap time). They said that they really think both kids (but especially Tyler) are very advanced in terms of the preschool skills like identifying colors, shapes, numbers, and letters that they will work on in the next year, BUT are more behind in potty training. That is completely our fault, and it is pretty telling that my first thought when he said that they have to be in underwear all day with no pull-ups was about our beach trip - I never said I'm not selfish! I can't imagine what a pain it will be to try to make an 8 hour trip with two toddlers in underwear and having to stop for the restroom, or at the waterpark, or when we go to the park - you see why they are having issues now! Lance and I both put them in pull-ups whenever it is going to be a hassle to find bathrooms, coerce them into the bathrooms, or logistically get them in and out of the bathrooms in a timely manner and that apparently is exactly why they are having trouble. On weekends they spend most of their time in pull-ups (since we are usually out and about) and definitely do not understand that they should treat those like underwear. When they get to school they wear underwear, but it is always a couple of days adjustment after the weekend because they forget that they are supposed to be telling the teacher! I guess next week we will really get serious about it, really, truly! No matter how much I can't believe the munchkins are getting older - they are - and no amount of dragging my feet on the potty training issue is going to change that! Should be some fun times around our house in the next few weeks as they adjust to new teachers (always takes a while), new classmates, and not having each other around, in addition to the increased amount of time we are sure to spend in our bathrooms and others around the city!

Toys!

Yesterday Tyler's teacher came into my office to tell me that he was limping around dramatically and complaining of his shoes hurting his feet even with a bandaid on his heel (very telling since they love bandaids and think they cure-all). Lance was having a busy day and I couldn't really fit a trip all the way home in, so I told the teacher to just let him go shoeless until the end of the day if they weren't going outside. I didn't realize that my particular and routine -oriented little boy would not have any of that since he is certain that shoes are supposed to be worn at school and he wanted to do what he was supposed to do. For instance, last night he asked Lance to take a book into the "dance room" (what they call it from when they were little and the tv was broken so it could only play music) and Lance forgot and set it on the shelf, only to hear Tyler yelling as loud as possible for "Daddy put the book in the dance room." He would not lay down and was very upset that it wasn't where it was supposed to be and that dad had not done what he said he would. He has a very precise sense of how things should be done and gets upset if they aren't as he thinks they should be. Once the book was in the dance room and he saw that it was in its place he was fine and went to sleep shortly thereafter. Anyway, the point is that different shoes were imperative or else he was going to wear the ones that hurt his feet versus none at all.

I decided to go to Target to get some water shoes that I have been intending to get (for our beach trip and frequent Nashville Shores visits) and just let him wear those for the remainder of the day. It ended up not working out, because he couldn't be convinced that they were actually his! He did put them on once I picked him up and told him that I got them for him along with another surprise. I couldn't resist getting a cheap little toy for them once I saw what I eventually got Katie. On clearance was a disney princess toddler cd player that she can operate herself, and wear around her neck. She LOVES it. I had Lance's voice in my head when I was picking out something for Tyler (of course I couldn't just get something for Katie) and even though I saw lots of things I know he would love I knew Lance would say that we didn't need any more toys (and we don't "need" them) so I got him an inexpensive dinosaur toy (the dinosaur from the dinosaur train show) that he likes alright, but is certainly not as big a hit as the "mooskic" player. What was fun, though, was looking at all of the options and realizing that toys are about to get good (for us)! For their birthday I am going to try to convince Lance to let me get Tyler a car track or building set (he loves to take things apart and try to build real objects), and finally Barbie dolls for Katie or maybe dress-up stuff (which she absolutely loves at school). I much prefer those kinds of toys, and can't wait until they can really get the hang of those as well as corny (but oh so fun) games like Candy Land!!! We are very close to them being able to swing themselves, too - which will be a GOOD DAY! I don't mind swinging them for short stints, but Katie is obsessed and would stay in there all day demanding to go faster and more, if you would let her and that gets a bit tiresome. So, I am counting down the days until we get swings where they can touch!!!

We had a good weekend - Nashville Shores on Saturday and Sunday. We intended to just go to the Y pool on Sunday since it was overcast and threatening rain, but someone got sick in the pool and it had to be closed :(. Sunday morning we did go over to the grocery store across the street on the way to the Y and they had a free jumpy house AND the Weinermobile with games and prizes (whistles, loud whistles) which the kids really enjoyed. You can pack a lot of stuff into a day now that we have officially given up weekend naps!

The kids thought the "hot dog car" was awesome. Please excuse the way they are dressed - it isn't worth fighting with them about what "matches" and doesn't, so I just let them pick whatever they want!

Katie really liked the whistle, but apparently not shoes. We went to the Y after this and the pool incident involved a lifeguard blowing his whistle to tell everyone to get out of the pool. Needless to say the kids imitated that repeatedly, all afternoon!

The Waterpark!

We went to the waterpark again today. So much fun and it keeps the kids from being grumpy from missing a nap, plus they are really getting the hang of "swimming!" Katie was so worn out that she fell asleep eating her cheeseburger (that we got on the way home to try to keep her awake). I can't wait to go to the beach in August, it is a blast hanging with the kids at the pool and in the water!

They were all smiles! They were being extra sweet to each other today, at least they were after they kept "squeezing" each other which we finally figured out meant they were pinching the heck out of one another.

Slides, swings, and cannons - some of their favorite things!

They are doing great swimming without holding hands or being cling-ons. I really think they will pick it up fast when we do swim lessons on their own this Fall.

So much energy!

We have had a active and fun-filled weekend again already, and Sunday is just beginning! It amazes me that the kids are on go from the minute they wake up until they finally fall asleep (these days around 9:00 after much begging, reprimanding and cajoling). Friday night we went to Joe's Crab Shack. The kids had gone with my mom while visiting her and Tyler has continued to talk about it so we made the trek downtown (and remembered why we never go down there when we had to pay $10 for parking just to eat). It was delicious and the kids had so much fun dancing in the aisles and eating all of my food - Tyler had my corn on the cob and devoured it and Katie had what seemed like half of my crab legs (she loved them)! They were given shark toys, had yummy popcorn shrimp and fish sticks of their own, watched big kids dance and danced in the aisles with them, and really just became even more convinced that it is one of the best restaurants ever. Yesterday we went back to Nashville Shores. Fun times again - the kids really are at a great age to really enjoy that place and even though it was really crowded we still managed to swim and play. Katie is soooo brave - she was "swimming" by herself everywhere and wouldn't let anyone touch her (she had her lifejacket on) - even in the Lazy River! The jets carried her away at one point and Lance was desperate to catch up with her and really hurt his toe - BUT he wants to go back today so that tells you how much fun it is. Rides on the little Shoreliner are part of the ticket price/season tickets and we were too late (saw it boarding as we were eating lunch) to get a seat up top but the kids loved it regardless!

HELP!!!

Ok, so I definitely spoke too soon in the last post when I said bedtime was getting better. It is 10:00 (normal bedtime between 7:30 - 8:00) and Tyler is still awake, alternately singing, getting out of bed to turn lights on, and getting in Katie's bed with every pillow, blanket and article of clothing he can find. Nothing is working! Praise and special treats the last two days obviously didn't help, stern warnings and admonishments to no avail, silently putting them back in bed - nothing, arghhhhhhh! This can't keep happening. Tyler is grumpy all day because of lack of sleep, he keeps Katie awake (who pretends to be asleep even though she isn't), and I fear that he is going to hurt himself since he can remove outlet covers, climb anything, and figure out how to open, dismantle or break anything in his path. We really need a discipline method that works and so far they are definitely winning. Lance was annoyed with me the other day and told me that I desperately need a break, but really what I need is an answer! I have to go back up there since the light is on again and he is calling for me (Lance and I are taking turns) - I hate not knowing what to do!!!

Separation Anxiety

I really thought we were way past any kind of separation anxiety but for the last few weeks Tyler has been really clingy to me anywhere we go, and particularly at school. He has to literally be dragged away from me every morning. It breaks my heart and I really hope that it ends soon. I have no clue why he started this up again - it could be because the teachers are preparing them for a new classroom and Tyler does NOT like change, maybe because we left them with my dad and my mom for extended times, or maybe just a new awareness that he is not with me. Whatever it is, I am assuming it is just a stage and hoping that it doesn't get worse when he actually does change rooms! Luckily, that has been delayed somewhat because even though they were the most ready in their class to move up (which is why they told me they were moving them early), they are the youngest and they are having to move some of the other children first who are already 3 to make room for some younger incoming children who would probably do better with smaller, younger children as they make the adjustment.

They have done pretty well with bedtime the last two nights, but we are definitely not out of the woods! Katie was playing pretend the other day and put me to bed (complete with a tuck-in and hug and kiss) and kept coming back in the room telling me "do not touch lights, stay in bed, be a big girl," so I know it is getting through I just fear that it is more fun and games than real admonishment! I am really hoping they improve somewhat so we don't have to separate them, but I am going to move to twin beds sooner than later since I think that will be more bed-like and less enticing to jump in and out of (probably wishful thinking). They are really cracking me up with their conversations on the way to school. Katie has an imaginary pink house, and Tyler has a pretend blue house (but he often paints it different colors) and their tales of what they have at the house and what we can do when we go there (or take the house on the airplane like this morning) are hysterical. Their obsession with airplanes makes me want to take a field trip to the airport. Katie told me this morning that she was a big girl and I agreed and she said so, I go on an airplane ride now? I don't think the reality of an air trip will live up to their expectations, but probably the first time they fly will be to Disney World in a year or so which means that they may actually think air travel is fun! They have a pretty good idea of what most things they say mean - but there are still two words that they have no clue but say all the time - spicy and tiny. Everything is too spicy, and Tyler says "I think it is tiny" all the time as in when he responded to my question of if he had a good day at school he said Maybe, but I think it was too tiny! I don't have any recent pictures - maybe I will get some tonight. We are going to Monkey's Treehouse (friends are having a fundraiser to raise money to adopt a child), but only if the kids are good - yesterday their teachers said that they were not behaving at all, spent most of their time in the naughty chair, and that they definitely did not have their listening ears on! Tyler was primarily just grumpy and whining - I think he is still adjusting to a little later bedtime with the same wake up time and no nap, but he has also had to be on albuterol treatments :( - which always make him a little off. Katie is, I think, just finally getting comfortable around all the folks there, and unfortunately I think being "bad" is just her being Katie. She isn't bad really, she is just really full of herself and mischevious and a clown and realizes that none of the "punishment" or threats are really a big deal and prefers to act up rather than listen and do what is asked!

Happy 4th!

I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday weekend - we sure did! One of the kid's favorite people - Uncle Matthew - was in town and we started off the weekend with a fabulous meal courtesy of Matt. We went to Nashville Shores again (twice - you know Lance is going to try to get his money's worth out of the season pass) and had so much fun and managed to get the kids to sleep in the car both times - it wears them out! We went trout fishing on Sunday - so fun even though Lance nor I actually caught any fish. Tyler "helped" and claims to have caught a big one! I hate that I forgot my camera! I ate some of the caught trout last night (Lance and some buddies had a shrimp boil that was way too spicy for me) and it was delish! Sunday afternoon was spent at the pool with Uncle Stan and Aunt Carol. The kids both had a blast and can't stop talking about how they swam by themselves (with floaties), jumped in, etc., etc. They really got the hang of it and by the time we went to Nashville Shores on Monday Katie was willingly putting her head under the water and both were almost swimming kicking their legs and not afraid to try without holding on to us! The kids got to experience some tame fireworks yesterday evening (snappers, sparklers were the faves) and Tyler definitely inherited Lance's pyro tendencies. That boy is cautious as can be and takes forever to decide to do something but he jumped right in to wanting to "do lots of fireworks" - crazy! Lance and I also got to go to the U2 concert (amazing) and the kids stayed with Ray Ray and So So and had a big time there too. All in all it was a jam-packed, pretty water-logged weekend that was tons of fun. It is just what I needed to tide me over until we hopefully get a beach vacation in August or September.

Speaking of August/September - it is hard to believe but the kids will be 3 (!) and that is the age that a lot of people start activities like gymnastics, dance, and soccer! I think we are going to not have a big birthday party for the kids (probably when we will be at the beach anyway since I don't really have good vacation days and will have to combine with Labor Day), but may sign them up for some sort of class or activity instead of paying for a bunch of kids to play at Monkey's Treehouse or Monkey Joe's or a place like that (yes, I am selfish I guess) when the kids won't really care one way or the other since all they want is birthday cake. The added expenses (it is crazy how it all adds up - with registration fees, uniforms, and class fees) will be hard to swing while we are still paying preschool/daycare, but I don't think I can wait two more years (when they will be in "real" school) to see how they like tumbling or soccer! Some friends of mine with little girls close to Katie's age are enrolling in a Saturday tap, tumbling, ballet class that I want to sign Katie up for in the Fall but I know Lance isn't going to want to enroll Tyler too (there are boys in the class, though). So he may get to do soccer or I might look for a gymnastics class instead of the dance one so they both can do it, but I just know that Katie will enjoy the dance portion so I haven't decided! I don't really think Tyler will be too into soccer (he would probably like being out there but would be playing in the dirt more than kicking the ball I think), and do think he would like gymnastics and I think T-Ball to (but that doesn't start until 4) - so now I just have to convince Lance that gymnastics is ok at this age for him! Either way I think life is about to get (more) chaotic, but hopefully even more fun too! The kids are truly at a fun age, but they are still driving us crazy with bedtime shenanigans - operation Separate is happening this week!