Happy Halloween!

This years Halloween adventures had us going into new territory...specifically...new kindergarten territory. Yes we are now navigating the waters of public education. A strange and happy place where the goal is to educate the children in a safe sometimes paranoid environment where everything is fair and equitable for the masses. Our school has "high parent involvement" which translates into - every parent attends everything possible and the PTO is always looking for "volunteers" . It is good of course but also a bit difficult if you are a parent who has to, I don't know...work to support your family or something.

So...on to the Halloween adventure.

It began a couple of months ago when I was tapped to be a room mom. Thrown into the world of Oriental Trading Co, goodie bags and healthy snacks I quickly learned that a "party" for kindergarten kids involves more than a few cupcakes. One of the biggest lessons involved learning that the menu must be balanced. This is not about candy and sugar. It is about limiting the sugary snack with a good dose of healthy snacks. So our party involved a cheese tray, fruit tray and, oh ya, a cookie. Poor kids... But they did get to dress up, do the monster mash, and do a fun and easy craft.

The day before the party we went on an adventure to the Pumpkin Patch. There were possibly 4 kids in the class who did not have parents there. The poor teacher trying to keep track of the kids when basically everyones parent was there taking them one direction or the other. Very difficult to keep kids all together anyway let alone with these renegade parents :)

But all in all it was a great Halloween! We opted out of the traditional trick or treating for the new "safer" go to the mall style of trick or treating. It was actually great fun and much easier than worrying about traffic but I suppose a bit sad to get away from how trick or treating used to be...when we were kids.

Hope everyone had a safe and "healthy" Halloween!

Car Shopping with Kids

Have you ever had the joy of car shopping with kids? 2 kids, ages 2 and 5 running around the showroom floor, 2 possible car choices, 5 test drives (car seat moved into each car for each drive) and Kellie the 5 year old exclaiming after each drive "can we get this one? I really like this one" (so much for hard negotiating) later we made our purchase. It wasn't a bad experience really, but when spending that much money I like to have a moment to actually consider the purchase as opposed to having to answer 4000 questions during the purchase. "What is that sound mommy?"...me:"The blinker". "Why does it make that noise?" "Because it does." "What does this button do?" me: "I don't know, but please don't push it!!!" And it went on and on. So needless to say I know nothing about the car we purchased really, but I'm sure my kids will press all the buttons and let me know.

We came home exhausted from trying to control our children and spending too much money and as I collapsed on the sofa, something the finance manager said came back to me. "I just have to say you have really good kids." Really the ultimate compliment during the chaos that is our life, but I though he was just being nice until he shared his experiences with other children who have sat in his office during the car buying experience. One who kept coming over to the keyboard and pressing on the keys while he was trying to work out the deal. The parents apparently just sat there clueless to what a pain their child was being until the finance manager made the comment that "if he keeps pounding on the keyboard it will make their monthly payments go up". Suddenly they became very aware of their child's actions. Brilliant :)

My Friend Pablo

Our youngest daughter Megan has always been the quieter, more calm version of her sister. From sleeping to eating to social situations, where Kellie's anxiety sometimes gets the best of her, her sister has always had a laid back approach to life.

Big Sis Kellie never grew attached to any playthings, instead preferring to have mommy or daddy as her playmates. I would try in desperation to get her to find a "lovey" of some sort. Something she could sleep with so that I could leave the room when she was a baby, instead of having to stand, hanging over the crib for hours, rubbing her back. Or a toy she could bring along on vacations or even when we had to leave her with a caregiver to give her some additional comfort and support, but nothing caught on.

Megan on the other hand has been alternating objects of affection. The "binky" of course is the favorite, but she is also attached on various days to different baby dolls, Care Bears and Princess dolls. And now there is Pablo.

If you don't know Pablo, he is one of the Backyardigans, a show my daughter has maybe seen 5 times in her life. It really isn't about the show, but there is something about this little blue and yellow penguin that seems to have captured her heart. She has 3 versions of this little character. One that is small enough to easily carry, go into stores and ride in the car without much of a fuss...this is not the one she likes. The other is a larger than life, well larger than Megan, size doll. This one also fortunately is not the one she likes either. No the one she has become quite attached to is the version that sings and dances, spinning around the room singning the Backyardigan tunes. This is the one she wants to take in the car, have sit at the dinner table with us and if I would let her, take a bath with her as well.

As her first "best friend" I suppose I shouldn't complain. He is very attentive, is always there for her and always has a special song to share...but I am a little concerned about taking him on vacations...