Dinner

At 9:00 am I carefully placed a "hunk" of meat in the crockpot, added some spices and juices and turned it on low. I left the house around 10:30 am. I returned at 5:30 pm. This is what I found. MY CROCK POT WAS ON THE FLOOR AND IT WAS EMPTY!!!

THE JUICES WERE SPLASHED EVERYWHERE!!

THE HUNK OF MEAT WAS UPSTAIRS ON THE FLOOR licked to death!

The "innocent" one!!
The pizza was great...Kids were happy...Fiona was happy...Daddy's wallet is now empty...
KT

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Snipits and Snapshots

Snipits and Snapshots

Snapshot: Teagan seeing corn on her plate and not wanting it to be there, carefully pushes it off her plate and onto the table.

Snipits: Kyle please eat your corn. But Mom I ate all my chicken. Kyle, I didn't put it there just to look pretty. Mom, I don't think it looks pretty.

Shapshot: Iain trying to refill his cup with orange juice....oh my...

Snipits: Teagan shares her high of the day saying she and Mommy went to Starbucks in the mall. And we walked and walked and walked. When asked how many people were there, she responded that there were 5 lots of people.

Snapshot: Iain finished eating first and was having trouble sitting still so he occupied himself by placing his fork under his plate and attempting to launch his remaining corn kernals into the air.

Snipits: Rhia sharing her lows of the day tells how she got a Tally in school, but Mommy was very very proud of her. (A tally is given for talking or misbehaving etc.) Mommy explained that Rhia "turned herself in" when the teacher didn't notice that she too was talking. At this point Daddy chose to explain the right to remain silent. DADDY!!!!.....

There are reports and studies and books and seminars all on the subject of the importance of eating together around the table. Most of these events and writings conclude that eating together unites families and builds a bond that lasts throughout childhood and adulthood. While that may be the case, I have a slightly different conclusion. I think these writers and speakers have just witnessed family dinners with young children and realize that it will take YEARS AND YEARS for these children to become restaurant acceptable persons and the theory remains that practice makes perfect.

On a lifelong pursuit of training restaurant acceptable persons,
KT

PS. Did I mention that while I was making dinner Iain was chasing his sisters around the house with a tall empty laundry basket attempting to catch them inside. Absolutely HILARIOUS!! Don't tell Teagan I said that. She was not a fan.

soccer mom lights up the room

This morning there was a meeting at school for moms who volunteer throughout the year to make meals for the teachers and special lunches once a month. A very sweet mom there singled me out and told me that I have beautiful eyes and that she is so glad when she sees me because I light up a room. WHAT A COMPLIMENT! I have witnessed those types of people before and I never thought someone would say that about me. I'm thankful to have been a blessing to her.

So while lighting up the room I worked all day and then at 3:00 collected my things and my offspring, one of which was SOUND asleep on the kindergarten floor, and we hit the road headed for ballet. Getting stuck in traffic we survived the trip inspite of insufficient snacks and water supply and arrived to ballet just a few minutes late. Once Rhia was safely in her class, I went in the office and actually signed her up. Which came first? The chicken or the egg?
In the waiting room, I did homework with Kyle while fighting off the continued cries of malnutrition from my other son. Quickly packing our bags we hit the road again dropping Kyle off at karate and then back to the dance studio to pick up Rhia and try on Tap shoes. Back to pick up Kyle and finally we arrived home around 5:30 pm.

Is this what is meant by a soccer mom? Well, I'll find out, soccer starts tomorrow after school.

Blessed to be momofkrit,
KT

My 5:00 car

Why does my car hate me so much? Really and truly we are not friends. I know I don't always take perfect care of it, but I do wash it a few times a year, I vacuum it out at least once a month. I use it every day telling it how much I appreciate it. Why does it hate me so much? Flat tires leaving me stranded at the Ymca, on the road. Alternators, batteries, brakes...I do get the oil changed and have it inspected...Why me? Today was my day off. Teags and I enjoyed a nice long PJ morning. Waiting until 1:00 to go out we talked all morning of our trip to Starbucks, just me and her. Yeah, so finally in the car backing out of the driveway and something isn't right. Quick turn around, back up the driveway and sure enough, I have a flat. Thankful it wasn't on the weekend during our trips to MD and DE and MD, I am still caused to question, is it 5:00 somewhere? KT

pics and stuff

We spent part of the weekend celebrating Rhia's birthday and Labor Day and friendship. Here is a picture of the kids walking around at Helen's house.
Kids sitting on Helen's porch enjoying the day off
Rhia and Taylor showing off their secret handshake

Here's a pic of Rhia, Taylor and Teagan.
Labor Day at Aunt Helen's was fun with the usual great table of food and a great game this year of 'build something with the stuff in your bag'. Each team had to use the misc stuff in their bag to build something. It was a blast. Here Kyle and Trevor were working on their guitars and banjo's.
Captain Teagan had her team wrapped around her finger and enjoyed making a xylophone.
Here is Kyle and Trevor's team.
Here are all the kids celebrating life together. I'm so thankful for the baines family and the love and happiness they bring to our family.

locking doors

So when you have 4 kids communication is extremely important and yet also a luxury. Often on the weekends my husband and I will escape to our bedroom to attempt to start AND finish a conversation. Because my kids love to be with me So much they will follow us attempt to come into the room. So.,.we shut and lock the door.

Ok in our house we have a no locking doors policy (Except the bathroom) which is basically in place for protection when you have friends over and also to avoid little ones getting locked into rooms. Finding Mom and Dad's door unlocked is very upsetting to my children and especially my little one Teagan.

Monday morning, Labor Day, we escaped to our room to talk about the upcoming school year and finances etc.. and the knocks on the doors continued throughout the conversation. Later that morning I asked Teagan to tell daddy I needed to talk with him for a minute. Here's how it went:

Mommy - Teags could you please ask Daddy to come upstairs for a minute I need to talk to him.
Teags - NOT AGAIN?!!
Mommy - It's ok, Teags, I'll be quick.
Teags - NOT LOCK DOOR MOMMY!!
Mommy - Ok, honey, we won't lock the door.
Teags - Pinky promise?
Mommy linking pinkies with Teagan - Pinky Promise
Teags walking out the door turns around and says - AND NOT SIKE, Mommy!
Mommy appalled and amused that she knows the meaning of that word - Not sike honey.


Teagan satisfied with Mommy's answer, but anxious to confirm with daddy delivers her message but also physically forces a pinky promise from daddy as well. Returning to Mommy's room she announces that daddy will be up in a minute and she "plants" herself strategically on the bed ready to stay put for THIS conversation.

Thoughts:
I plan to enjoy this stage knowing that my kids will not always want to be so close to me.
I am continually amused by the language of my 3 year old. Being a 4th kid certainly takes away a bit of her innocence. How does she know the word Sike and how does she know how to properly use it? Answer: older siblings.

Blessed to be momofkrit and woj,
KT