Still Stripping...

Well, today was... interesting. My boss talked to the kid's teachers and told them that they should act as if I don't work there, and try to handle things that arise as if I don't have an office literally feet from their classrooms. So, today when Katie, AGAIN, stripped continuously in the midst of temper tantrums, the teachers tried to handle it as if I didn't work there. That was until she was in our equivalent of the "principals office" and decided to angrily take all her clothes off and he decided to take it to my boss to see what to do. I happened to be in a meeting in my boss's office so we both went in to deal with the "Katie taking all her clothes off - take 20" incident. She eventually redressed and was well-behaved for the afternoon, but I was upset because I really thought we were past this! She promises that she understands that is not how she is supposed to act if she doesn't want to go to school - her excuse for being angry - but only time will tell.

I am in the midst of a crazy month and have worse ahead - government grant deadlines, an event that doesn't have the attendance that we need, and a new fundraiser kick-off - and I admit that I have not had the most patience lately. Regardless, I really think that whatever amount of patience I was able to muster - the kids would be testing it right now! They are so, so sweet ( I Love you to the moon and sun and stars, mama), and funny (stories about flying cars, and talking dogs, dinosaurs that eat birthday cupcakes, and unfortunately the discovery of bathroom humor), and great with each other (hugs and comforting and encouraging that will melt your heart) - but they are also very, very mischevious right now! Tyler will not listen to a word I say, and seems to be incapable of following directions, and Katie has become super competitive constantly fighting with Tyler in an effort to "win" everything that could possible be interpreted as a competition - who gets in the bathtub first, who gets pajamas on first, who finishes eating first... It has become very exhausting to try to referee their scuffles! I surely hope that this phase is almost over - but really I will just be happy if at least the stripping is winding down!

Early Easter Fun

The kids are really enjoying Easter this year, especially since they are candy freaks. They had a hunt at school and got lots of candy, which they unfortunately know how to open and sneak! Lance found Katie hiding in her play fridge with a bag of skittles that she had pilfered from the pantry. Today we went to Cheekwood for some arts and crafts and another hunt. Katie only got three eggs at that hunt because she was on the lookout for the golden egg. She more than made up for it at the neighborhood hunt we had this afternoon. Now that there are finally other houses in the neighborhood there are also more children and they did a really fun thing where all the neighbors hid eggs in their front yards for the children to walk around and find. They ended it with cupcakes and juice boxes and the kids had a blast, plus their baskets were full! Tomorrow we head to Ray Ray and So-So's and I for one am hoping the weather is just as gorgeous as it was today.

They had a lot of fun riding their scooters and bikes around the neighborhood after the hunt, too. We went for a ride because they got a bit jealous seeing the littler kids on their trikes and push wagons as we went from house to house.

Dinosaurs!

Sorry it has taken me a bit to tell you all about our dinosaur adventure last Sunday! I have a good excuse, though - my mom and grandmother (THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH) came up to watch the kids Sunday, Monday and Tuesday while Lance and I went to a practice round at the Masters. It was so, so much fun and the kids had fun visiting with Grandma and GG. Before they arrived on Sunday we went to the zoo to see the dinosaurs. The kids, especially Tyler, have been talking about going for a while now and were super excited.

However, as soon as we turned the corner after entering and heard a roar Tyler began to get a little scared. The second or third dinosaur we saw depicted a dinosaur that spits so it shot water out at us and that was enough for Tyler. He hightailed it back toward the entrance and was going to have nothing to do with it anymore until Lance picked him up and tried to explain pretend.

Katie was long gone - she took Ray-Ray's hand and tried to be a big girl but she definitely wanted to zoom through there. She was going so fast that we didn't even manage to get a picture of her with any of the dinosaurs. This dinosaur was at the end when we thought Tyler had calmed a little bit, but it was big and loud with sharp teeth and it scared Tyler all over again!

All in all it was a fantastic exhibit and Lance and I agreed that we would like to have a chance to read the signs and see it in more detail, but the kids just couldn't do it! They could not be convinced that the dinosaurs were not real, which shouldn't be surprising because I also can't convince them that monsters don't exist either. They were much happier when all was said and done and they got to play with stuffed animal dinosaurs and have Ray Ray close by to keep them safe! Tyler is back to talking about his favorite dinosaurs, playing with them all the time, and they sleep with these - but they haven't mentioned going back for a visit!

Oh, Katie...

Today, for the third time, I was called into Katie's classroom for a discipline issue. She is still going through stages where she absolutely does not want to go to school and spends most of the day crying and whining with the only explanation being that she wants to be with me. For more days than not, though, for the last two weeks she has been proud to be a "big girl," and hasn't cried or even stalled too bad at drop-off. There have been incidents, though, that have confounded the teachers so much that they do more than just ask "if everything is OK at home" or if she "is going through big changes" and call in reinforcements (me)! Each time I have come in the room Katie has been completely naked with her clothes, shoes and socks strewn all around in opposite directions (she apparently throws them violently as far as she can while undressing). I have been privy to the outbursts when I bring her to my office to try and talk some sense into her and it is both hilarious and disturbing. She is so intent on expressing her anger by disrobing that it really is kind of funny, but then she is naked in the middle of her classroom having a complete meltdown with everyone watching and you just have to wonder what she is thinking. My boss came into my office today while I was giving Katie a time-out (while her friends were on the playground so it actually worked as punishment) and saw what was going on and left. When I went in shortly after to see what she needed, I told her what was going on. She talked to the Program Director and another person that I work with to try to give the teachers some strategies (so they don't have to come get me) and to give me some explanations. Now that I look at it from their perspective it makes complete sense - Katie is a control freak just like me and her dad! She has control over what she is or isn't wearing and we can't really stop her from undressing, so it has become sort of a power play for her and in her mind it is kind of like her saying well, I don't like that and I am going to undress in protest and there is nothing you can do about it. She has also learned that it gets attention and that it gets her out of doing whatever it is that she doesn't want to do. The funny thing about today's episode is that she was mad that she didn't have a jacket like all of the other kids (it was 75 freaking degrees!) - so she literally undressed because she couldn't dress exactly as she wanted! Tyler is oblivious to all of her shenanigans since they are thankfully only really happening at school, and he seems to be really happy in his class right now, probably because the awesome weather has meant lots of outdoor play time. One of his teachers left and I was worried that he would be upset because he really liked her, but he just tells me that Miss Kimberley isn't in his class anymore but now he gets to see Ms. Tawana, so all is good!

Park on a Rainy Day

Today has been a full day, despite the sporadic rain and chillier weather. We met some friends out at Bowie Park (I know - again - but it really is great). The first stop was the playground and the kids had a ball, with lots of "watch me, mama" exclamations over their dare-devil antics. While I was in the bathroom with Tyler, who unfortunately had an accident when he didn't want to stop playing, the decision was made to leave the slides and swings and head toward the ducks. So, we went out to the lake where we proceeded to feed the least hungry ducks and geese I have ever seen. We actually had bread this time, and the ducks wanted no part of it! It started to rain so our friends set the kids up in the tailgate of their SUV for a picnic!
When the rain subsided, Tyler went back to his pine cone collecting proclaiming each one that he found as his favorite.
Katie was playing "mom" sitting on the picnic table trying to order around our friend's little boy.
They were having fun together today, which is much different than what is happening now when they seem to want to sit in the exact same spot, play with the same toys at the exact same time, and watch completely different shows!

Gardening Fun

We have still been enjoying beautiful weather and took advantage this weekend! Saturday we were indoors for a birthday party, but on Sunday we went to a yummy breakfast at Monell's (can't stay away now that we have rediscovered it) and then to Home Depot. We got some mulch, and I got some gerbera daisies to put in pots even though I know they won't last - but they will make me happy just to see them when I drive up for at least a little while! The kids "helped" us weed the front beds, and plant the pots and spread the mulch. Katie really enjoyed it and especially liked that she got to plant the pink flowers she picked out! Tyler much preferred playing in the tent I had set up in the yard to help them escape the sun and then once he moved all of his cars outside and then back in he was ready to stay inside. We will have to find some way to get him to enjoy being outside more - although I don't really blame him for preferring to be inside over weeding! He is definitely his father's son - Lance did the bulk of the heavy lifting for the gardening project and was certainly working hard - but neither Tyler or Lance particularly likes bugs, dirt, or getting messy! I don't mind a little dirt, and Katie seemed to actually enjoy digging and getting dirty, but I will admit that I am a freak about bees, hornets and spiders (all that seem to be mighty prevalent when gardening in TN) so I can't make fun of him too much!

We have another crazy weekend ahead, but it should be fun for the kids even if I am a little harried when it is all said and done! We have a birthday party Friday night and another on Sunday afternoon. They are absolutely wild at these birthday shindigs. I wonder if it could be the cake, juice, ice cream, other little children, and bouncy houses that bring out the sillies - ha! Last Saturday was a bit challenging trying to keep up with them on my own. I guess I have gotten used to Lance helping me and us being man-on-man, because this time, on my own, I spent the majority of the time asking one of the kids where the other was and looking frantic I am sure since Lance had to work and wasn't able to help me manage the Monkey Joe's chaos.

I also have my first tennis match of the season on Sunday (I might have to enlist the kids as ball boy and girl - kidding, or at least my team hopes so), the dinosaurs are still calling our name from the zoo, there is a fun fundraiser for Book 'Em happening at Hillwood with the Easter bunny and an Easter egg hunt, and Katie has dance class for a couple more months. We let Katie try on her recital costume to make sure it fit and then told her she couldn't wear it until the recital, although picture day is in April and she will get to wear it then. The recital is May 19th, and the costume will be out of sight, out of mind until then, but for little Bug it is perfect - pink, sparkly, big tutu, bows - what more could a 3 and 1/2 year old girly girl want!

Fun Birthday!

My Birthday was last weekend and we had a great time. So-So and Ray Ray watched the kids for us Friday night (another big thank you) while we went to a great dinner at Park Cafe and then to our old hang-out - Corner Pub - to watch the first Vandy game of the SEC Championship Tournament. Vandy won and we enjoyed hanging out and being care and kid free for the evening! The weather was and is beautiful so we did lots of playing outside and running around on Saturday and then Sunday (my actual birthday) we went to breakfast and then watched Vandy beat Kentucky in the championship game! The kids came running into my room Sunday morning and were so excited that it was my birthday and sang and were just giddy. I didn't figure out till later that the reason for the excitement was because they thought we were definitely having a cake, and that there was a good likelihood that my "party" was at Monkey Joe's too. They were sad when they finally understood that there wasn't a party, but they did really like the key lime pie that served as my birthday cake!

Tyler got his haircut on Saturday and was just great as usual (the hair stylists are still astounded at how well he sits still - they don't know it is because he really, really likes lollipops). We haven't gotten Katie's cut but I think it is time for at least a trim and maybe some bangs because she just won't let me do anything with it. With my hair, my motto is usually that it is just hair and it will grow back, but I am not sure that is the case with Katie :)! She definitely got Lance's thickness (or lack of) and texture as well as color.

We have a busy weekend ahead. Vandy plays today in the NCAA tournament and hopefully this weekend.

This was their game day gear for school today!

We also have a birthday party on Saturday at Monkey Joe's (which should make the kids happy). My tennis season is starting with practice that I am probably not going to make it to. I want to try to get out to see the dinosaurs who make their appearance at the zoo this weekend. And I am sure there are St. Patrick's Day festivities that will be fun, although Lance is pretty much off kid duty this weekend I am sure because of work and March Madness, so we will have to see what I can manage with this feisty, unpredictable duo!

For my birthday I got a new Kindle Fire, which I absolutely love, but not as much as the kids!

There are some really great apps for them to play with on this kindle and even though I am protective of the device and considered making it kid off limits, I love that they really enjoy playing the matching games, and letter recognition activities, and puzzles, and learning videos. It amazes me that, for them, the touch screen is so intuitive. The computers in their classrooms are touch, and they are able to easily navigate the kindle and seem to know what to push and when to get it to do what they want without me even giving direction. They will have to be comfortable with technology when they are in school, so I do let them play with it on occasion (when I am not hogging it playing Words with Friends).

I got a new app for them last night and read the reviews that said it was great for preschoolers and that it would entertain them for hours while they worked to get stickers. Well, it is entertaining and they love it, but within the first five minutes Tyler had already earned a sticker and in the 30 minutes they played it (sharing so well too) they probably had 25 stickers - so I don't know if it will be a long-term thrill like I hoped - but it is a great game. I watched them play for a while and am so impressed with all that they know! It asked them to count objects, to pick the object that started with certain letters, to remember what object was on overturned cards, to put together puzzles, to pick the object that was the biggest, or different - and they got all of it correct in record time.

Hopefully the learning games will serve Tyler well in his upcoming test! We finally decided to try to enroll Tyler in the Metro PK class that is where they currently attend. Only one of them can be in the class because Metro does not allow twins in the same classroom. So, the first decision was which one to enroll. We chose Tyler because of the teacher's personalities and feel like he will do better in the more structured, academic environment and Katie will probably thrive with the other teacher who is very creative, and compassionate and really works to make learning fun (I sought the advice of their current teachers, literacy coach, etc and all said to do it this way). If Tyler doesn't get in to the PK class he will be in the other class with Katie and that will be just fine. If he is enrolled in the PK class (we don't qualify because of income, but if there are spots available there are other ways to earn a seat), he will have to start school at 8:00 (so an earlier day for all of us), and he will have to wear a uniform! When I remembered about the uniform I almost re-thought who I was trying to enroll since it would be great to take away the getting dressed dilemma for Katie each day :)!