Such a Fun Day!

Well, we didn't end up going to any of the places I mentioned in the last post - we decided to go to the waterpark and had a great time! We got a late start because it was raining and we were indecisive, but got there around 11:00 and splashed and played for a few hours and the kids did surprisingly well right smack dab during their usual "nap/rest time." We went to Uncle Stan's and Aunt Carol's this evening to celebrate Stan's birthday and our exhausted children did great and managed to make it home without falling asleep in the car and were out as soon as their heads hit the pillows (so rare)! Lance and I really need to get in shape and lose weight, but we decided we didn't want to keep the kids from having fun in the water because of our issues and I am so glad we went. The kids really had fun and we did too! Of course, if Lance and I had our way we would have spent a lot more time in the lazy river, but the kids weren't huge fans - probably because the water was cold, and we didn't have tubes so they felt like they were in deep! They did do it and even Mr. Cautious surprised us trying things out - like running under the mushroom on his own, which Katie wouldn't do. He even got pushed down in the water by a girl coming off the slide right behind him and still went back down the slide - big for him!

Of course Katie's favorite was a swing that she could control on her own, in the water - nothing could be better for her!

Tyler enjoyed the cannon with Dad's help, but really enjoyed stomping on the water!

Katie loved "swimming" too!

They liked climbing on the animals even if they did get sprayed a little more than they wanted, and for some reason they both decided to lay down in the wave pool and were having a ball!

Sesame Street Live?

I just can't decide! Sesame Street Live is here tomorrow morning at 10:30 and I think the kids would enjoy it but for $71 (for four people with a promo code) I want to be sure. They know all of the characters and really enjoy them, but I don't know how they will do trying to stay tuned to a live production. Other options like going to the splash pad (free, but an hour away) or swimming at the Y (indoor) may win out. Decisions, decisions. I had decided we probably wouldn't do it, and then last night we were reading a book and they named all of the Sesame Street characters and made me re-think!

I have researched some solutions for our getting out of bed issue. It seems that our problems aren't very common - the most often recommended solution won't work for us. Everyone says to just remove everything from their rooms other than their beds. Well, the biggest things that they are doing would still happen if it was only them and their beds in the room - they could still turn the light on (but not turn it off because they aren't quite tall enough), jump from their beds to the pile of pillows and blankets they make on the floor, and practice taking the outlet covers in and out (I really thought those things would be more child-proof - I can barely get them out). So, before we try the completely bare room approach I am going to try some of the other things that were suggested. Some folks said to get those black-out shades and put them on the windows since they won't be as apt to run around and play if it is dark (it would probably help them sleep better too in the mornings). Others said to switch to twin beds since those aren't as easy to jump from and get in and out of and makes them feel like they are really in a big bed (still the issue of getting mattresses and bedding, though). We are doing the sticker chart to mixed results - it isn't really working for bedtime, but I have noticed that they are sharing better and being sweeter to each other because anytime we notice them doing something nice or sharing we praise them and give them a sticker and they love it, so we will keep doing that. A lot of people sit in the room until they go to sleep and I really, really don't want to start that but I guess we will if they keep pushing the envelope.

All in all it has been a good week, and I am hoping for a good weekend. The kids have been really chatty in the car to and from work/school and I have enjoyed hearing them talk about really, really random things :)! Tyler has started pretending that he has a blue house somewhere, and the toys and people that are at his blue house are sometimes astounding. Plus, even though they aren't staying in bed, they haven't been whining or screaming too much, just mischevious. I am still nervous about the switch in a couple of months to separate classrooms, but I am starting to see that they might really enjoy catching up with each other after a day spent apart and it will probably be fun to hear what they talk about!

Weekend Fun

Sometimes I think weekends are too short, but of course there are those weekends I think Monday will never get here! This one seemed to fly by. We took a picnic out to Red Caboose Park on Friday night and The Zinghoppers were there. Tyler was a dancing fool and even sang in the microphone. Saturday morning we went to a place called Monkey Joe's that had lots of bouncy houses and little cars to "drive" (and luckily we still don't have to put quarters in to make them go for the kids to enjoy them).

Katie on the train and both of them going down their favorite slide!

The kids went to So-So and Ray-Ray's house while Lance and I got to watch the Vandy baseball game - Go Vandy! The kids did wear their Vandy gear in support!

Tyler is holding his "reward chart." When they stay in bed, do something sweet for each other, behave in the car, etc. they get a sticker. When they get 10 stickers they get a special treat of their choosing. Right now, both of them have chosen to have a birthday cake (pink for Katie, blue for Tyler) with a candle and balloons. Unfortunately, they haven't earned too many stickers yet since they are still behaving horribly at bed and naptime. We'll get there, though!

The kids are moving into separate classrooms in August - eek! Everyone seems to agree that they will do fine and it will be good for them - we'll see! They had to carefully choose who would be Katie's teacher because in their words she is so "strong-willed." They put her with a teacher she wouldn't walk all over - sad that has to be a consideration for a not yet 3 year old, but so true. They have to be fully potty-trained by then, too but we are well on our way. Accidents yesterday at home, but at school they seem to get it which is all that really matters at this point!

Primping

Katie has been begging me to paint her nails ever since I did mine for the first time this Spring. She even told me on the way home yesterday that she wanted to go see So-So because she would do it for her! So, I picked up some light pink polish and painted her toenails for her yesterday afternoon. She was so, so happy and couldn't stop looking at them and raced to show her daddy as soon as he walked in the door. She is SUCH a girly girl and she was upset this morning that she couldn't wear her flip flops (no open toes at school) to show them off!

Tyler was very, very mad that I wouldn't paint his (I guess it wouldn't have hurt anything if I had painted his too - but I wasn't about to do the same ice pink I did on Katie). He was very grumpy and pouty lip was in full-effect!

But, he at least gave me a rockstar half smile when I relented and put some gel in his hair. His Ray-Ray doesn't like it at all, but Tyler now thinks girls wear nail polish and boys wear their hair spiked - ooops!

Katie couldn't wait to get to school to show off her toes - I'll have to remember that and hold painting her fingernails over her head if she behaves!

Time to Separate?

Well, I thought I would be refreshed from a long weekend with the girls at the beach and that the kids would be well behaved at least the first couple of nights home from time spent at their Papa's house (where they had a great time it seems), but last night certainly tested patience (and luckily made us laugh too). The only solution I can think of at this point is to separate them at bedtime and put door guards on so they can't get out of their rooms - but I just don't want to do that because they really do enjoy debriefing with each other every evening and I think they will get a little scared without their partner in crime in the room. Last night, for an hour and a half, they continued to get out of bed and cause mischief. I am beginning to feel like a horrible parent, especially after talking to my friends with young children whose kids don't seem to take it to the same extremes. In fact, even outside of bedtime I can't seem to find a way to get them to listen and do what they are told. It may be the age and the fact that there are two of them getting the other riled up and causing trouble, but nothing seems to work. The whining, in particular, is about to drive me insane and the only thing that even moderately works is ignoring them until they talk in a normal voice - now I just wish I could be more like Lance and tune them out rather than just getting progressively more annoyed when I am supposed to be ignoring :)! Bedtime is a perfect example of the kinds of things they are doing - Tyler can now reach the light switch and gets out of bed repeatedly to turn the lights and fan on and off and we haven't found a way to get him to leave them off - told him it is dangerous, put him in time-out, stayed in for a while to watch him stay in bed only to have him get up as soon as we leave. Also last night they emptied the drawers, climbed up the dresser to get lotion that they proceeded to spread all over the room (and strangely put boots on and walked in), undressed a couple hundred times, and then Katie managed to go in her diaper so should could yell for her dad to come change her. No matter how many times I have told Lance he has to be stern and firm and not acknowledge their delay tactics he just won't do it, so they have caught on that if they yell for daddy they have a chance of him coming back in the room and entertaining them or reprimanding them (they don't really care which as long as they aren't having to go to sleep). So, last night Katie was yelling that Tyler hit her (always a surefire way to get one of us up there). When that didn't work a second time she began to yell loudly (they understand that we can hear them in the monitor) "Daddy, I am crying." She said it many times and in many different volumes and whining levels but never was she actually crying - it was pretty funny. When we went up the final time (after a loud noise that we learned only after getting up there was them jumping into the pile of clothes and blankets and pillows from their beds) the door was locked and Tyler had to be walked through the process of getting it unlocked again (this time with the child safety handle on which made it more difficult). He managed, we made it in the room, got them settled down again and they finally went to sleep. When we went up to bed I wanted to check on them again only to find that the door had been locked again. Of course, I started to panic thinking that if we had a fire or an emergency we wouldn't be able to get in so I had to get it unlocked, preferably without waking them. We finally managed to pick it with a hanger and both were sleeping soundly until way too early this morning (at this house that is anytime before 6:00) when I could not convince them that it was not time to wake-up! We will go with the three day rule and give it a few more days for them to catch on that staying in bed is not an option, and then we may have to move the bed and computer out of the guest room (AKA Tyler's room) and give them separate rooms already :(!

Highs and Lows

We have had some really fun times lately, but there have also been some tough minutes, hours and days that have made me question all that I have "learned" to-date about discipline and parenting. Last Thursday night was one of the good days! We went to Cheekwood Family night (sans Lance) and had a really great time looking at the trains, having a picnic by the pond, and then watching Conductor Jack. The kids had soooo much fun dancing and singing - Katie was right up front and keeping up with all of the older kids. Tyler stayed off to the side but was dancing and stomping along, too and it was really fun to watch them enjoy it so much. They keep talking about going back to "Jackwood" and we probably will go again since it is every Thursday night in the summer, but it won't always be Jack!

The weekend was a bit tougher. Lance was working a golf tournament, Katie was sick and having some tummy upset, and Tyler seemed to be getting frustrated and having complete meltdowns at the drop of a hat (they literally want to do everything themselves these days and get so upset when they can't quite figure it out). We played outside early morning and late afternoon and for the most part things were ok then, but it was really hot and I didn't want them out in the heat of the day so I dealt with tantrums and whining during what was supposed to be "rest time." That is where I am at a complete loss. Nothing I do will make them stay in bed, stay on their "mat" on the floor, stay in the pack and play and when I try to do what everyone suggests which is calmy take them (Katie, since for the most part Tyler will listen) back to the bed with no talking and no emotion, all I get is scratched, hit, bit and an hour or more of exercise that I don't really want in the form of picking up a wailing, thrashing child repeatedly! I have said it many times, but I would be ok if they were ready for no naps but they are definitely not. No naps = even worse behavior and miserable bedtimes because they are just so exhausted, and the whining, screaming, meltdowns seem to be inevitable when they don't at least rest. I didn't want to deal with a repeat of the day's more upsetting events on Sunday so we loaded up and were on a trip to Target (to get juice for Katie's stomach issues and a special treat water table that I knew they would enjoy outside). Well, it was a disaster. I walked through Target completely embarrassed as my two children hit each other and me while screaming at the top of their lungs. I was literally at the end of my rope and called the grandparents that live in town to see if they could watch them while I made a return trip. Thankfully, they agreed (so, so grateful since I desperately needed a break even though it was only mid-morning) and I ended up getting the table to surprise them later if they were good. We got home and an attempt at watching a show quietly ended again in meltdowns and when Tyler's sandwich broke his meltdown was so severe that I have been googling autism and other disorder symptoms ever since, but by the afternoon they were being sweet and funny so I set up the table and we played outside in the baby pool, the table (Tyler loved it so much that it may rival trains as one of his favorite things ever), and with the waterhose.

Tomorrow we leave for a trip to see their other grandparents (and my annual beach girls trips) and I find myself in the same frame of mind that I think I was in last year. I know they will have a good time, we will enjoy part of the time in the car because they are really entertaining most of the time, and I know I am desperately looking forward to a little R&R with the girls, but I really wish I had thought about these behaviour issues a little in advance and gotten a dvd player as a distraction technique because I am absolutely dreading the car ride there and even more so back when it is a straight shot with no stopover. As I have learned, if we don't have it (in this case the dvd player) we will probably need it, but if we do things might not be so bad. So, if the fear of insanity (me) overwhelms me I may get Lance to watch them tonight (I've learned my lesson) and make the trek to Target to purchase one - just in case!

Memorial Day Weekend!

We had a great Memorial Day long weekend even if the kids are still acting like little devils (probably because they have been go, go, go with no nap most days). Saturday we went to a Birthday party (which the kids love - particularly Tyler because he is obsessed with ice cream) and then onto Ray Ray and So-So's for a spend the night party. Lance and I went to see Bridesmaids (movie) and it was good to laugh and enjoy a movie at night time with adults! Sunday we went to feed the ducks at Bowie Park and hiked around the lake. We had so much fun and the kids did great. We followed it up by a trip to Publix (to buy ice cream) and home for naps (ha). They are still doing ok at bedtime (although Katie thinks it is hilarious to announce "I get out" and run around the room for about 30 minutes every night), and are staying in their room after waking at about 6:30 in the morning until we come get them after about 15 minutes or when someone starts whining or gets hurt from jumping on the bed shenanigans. Naptime is an absolute disaster, though. They will not stay in bed no matter what we do and aren't really buying the whole you don't have to sleep but you do have to lay here and read a book thing! They finally did nap on Sunday - Monday we just decided to skip even the effort. After nap on Sunday we played outside and Lance grilled some chicken for them to have before their ice cream (which they LOVED). Monday was finally our chance to try out the train at the zoo (which the adults thought was pretty lame but the kids are still talking about so I guess it did its job). We came back and had more fun outside and more grilling - the kids were exhausted, but it was a good weekend. It makes me want to go on vacation - and then I am reminded what a stage they are in and think twice about the wisdom of that! They aren't doing anything awful - just being toddlers and two of them at once being defiant and mischevious is a bit of a challenge! Lance asked me the other day if they were the worst kids in the world (on a particularly rough morning when I was playing tennis and he was alone) and we agreed that if it was just one of them they are actually pretty good - but put them together and yes, they combine to create one pretty rotten (but hilariously funny, and often sweet) child!

They has so much fun getting to color (chalk) on the fence and the deck. With so much construction in our neighborhood they can't really go to the sidewalks and it washes off easily from wood - although I will probably regret letting them do this since they won't know much difference in walls and fences, chalk and markers!

On Friday I took them to the "bounce party" at the Y only to learn that it had been cancelled. The kids were talking the entire ride home about "jumpy houses" so I told them I would take theirs outside. Lance was not happy (another dead spot in the grass), but the kids were! Lance showed them how to use water guns - it was an hour of "I'm gonna get you" and then them accidentally spraying themselves - it was cute! Katie is definitely like me - a water baby. She was completely content in the "pool" and going down the slide and SO fearless unless a cicada joined her!
Tyler preferred the water hose. He watered ever piece of grass, flower, tree, or leftover chalk that he could find!