maybe a tie

I recognize that this is going to sound dumb, but I like big storms.  I love hunkering down with no obligations or plans except being together with the only rule to stay safe.  I recognize this is because I have never truly been in danger and i am very grateful for this.  So, these past few days were really fun to me... but Sandy definitely left some blows.

Here's the story of our battle against Sandy...

Sunday night after naps, Emily and Brayden came over to escape their house surrounded by huge trees to ride out the storm.  A. and K. are so excited that they are having not only 1 but maybe 2 sleepovers that they declare hurricanes the most fun ever...  A. as a result must have project after project after project to stay entertained and not trying to pick up one of the boys and squeeze them.  So, we start project 1) spider eggs. Immediately after we finish, she starts crying, throws a fit, and subsequently gets sent to her room because the boys weren't included in the project.  Though the eggs turned out well, We'll give that point to Sandy. Score: Sandy-1. Team Collins-0

hard boiled eggs cracked and then sat in black food coloring.  Once peeled they look like spider webs.

The rest of that night went well and all kids slept really well.  We'll count that as a score for us.  

Score: Sandy -1. Team Collins- 1

The next morning, it was 0900 and the kids were already getting a little stir crazy.  They took all the couch cushions off and jumped, jumped, jumped for about 30 minutes.  Well, A. and K. jumped, Brayden counted to 3 then said jump while subsequently lifting his shoulders up and then doing a trust fall into the cushions.   The rain had just started here and we had power.  We'll go with no score on this one.

 While the kids were entertained, I thought it would be a good time to call all my patients and tell them that Sandy has cancelled therapy for today.  However, I realized I left all of the important things in my car.  So, running in the rain it is...  Sandy-2, Team Collins -1

 A- got jealous in my running in the rain and decided that she also should brave the storm.  But, only as a true superhero and one that enjoys water.  So, Ming Ming wonder pet made her jaunt outside.  She wanted to do it again later as the storm got worse yet opened the door, heard the wind and ran to the complete other side of the house.

 The rest of the day was pretty normal, filled with projects (more on this in another post), snacks, naps,and either pajamas or nonmatching clothes.

Brayden clearly overwhelmed by the Collins kids put himself and his mom in timeout for no reason. 

 We will give the overall score for the afternoon to the Collins team- Sandy -2, Team Collins-2

Right before dinner, we decided it was pumpkin time.  Every kid loved it, the pumpkin seeds were awesome, and our pumpkins turned our really well.  

Note that there were no more kids at the table yet there were pumpkins and wine glasses.  They needed some independent play time!

 This score definitely went to team Collins- Sandy- 2, Team Collins- 3

Finally, some nice Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin for some relaxation as dinner cooked.  Even K. sat still for awhile.  Team Collins is doing really well!!
Sandy-2, Team Collins- 4

Then, after dinner, Sandy delivered her sucker punch.  As we were putting the kids to bed the power went out as loud gusts of wind were passing by the windows.  A. subsequently screamed and did not want to lay down.  K. laid down but was up at least every 30 minutes over the next few hours as the wind would slam into the windows.  Brayden broke our hearts with his requests until he finally said, "momma downstairs, please."  So, we ended up sitting by candle light with 2 kids on our laps until around 10 pm.  Now I kind of give this one to Sandy but how sweet are tired cuddly kids in pajamas by candlelight.  The only problem was the ping ping ping that we began to hear coming from our bay window.  That ping ping turned into loud splashes in 3 buckets, bubbles on the wall, and finally a car ramp to guide the water away from the wall and into the bucket.  We'll give Sandy 2 for this one.

So, we ended up with power back by 4 pm the next day, lots of time with our family and friends and some really awesome pumpkins and eggs.  We will count our blessings and think about all of those that did not fare as well.

PS. yes, I know K. had a different haircut from beginning to end.  more on that next post.

get your pillows ready

My husband has a very random platform.  He feels that people need to register their fandom when they are young.  No, fairweather sports fans.  No jumping on the bandwagon.  To go with this, he doesn't think there should be any 20-30 year old Ravens fans.  Who were these people cheering for before the Ravens .  Did they just abandon an old team?  According to B.'s platform, this is illegal and unfair.  So, for better or for worse, my kids are registering as Redskins fans.

They know RGIII's face and point to him whenever he is on TV.  K. can see any Redskins slogan and says, "foba".  A. even saw that Chris Cooley was coming back to the skins on the news and immediately and independently picked up the phone and called her father to tell the news.  

On game days, they play "put your pillows up." Every time something good happens, they stop what they are doing and run to the nearest pillow and hold it in the air.  It started with our redskins pillow.  But, since we only have 1 of those, any pillow will do.  

  Get your pillows ready.  It's GAMEDAY!!!

good morning sunshine

Another blog confession:  I HATE bed time.  There is a lot to do in a short amount of time I mean, we expect potty, brushing teeth, changing clothes etc all in a matter of a few minutes.  What kid transitions that easyily?  But, even though I know it's hard for everyone, I find myself frustrated EVERY night.  "A. brush your teeth."  "K. come here."  "A. brush your teeth." "K. come here."  I'm like an awful broken record.  Here is my solution...

Belle's first list

It started with snack, potty, night nights, and mommy medicine.  She added on face, book, and something else that I don't remember.  The point is, it worked. She was super excited to cross off her list and I was quiet and not yelling.  So much better.  Now, the only problem is that she wants a list for everything.  She wants one for her morning routine, for things to do before dinner.  Pretty much, I'm spending my time writing what we are doing instead of doing it. I'll chalk this up as a somewhat success.

As much as I hate bedtime, I LOVE the morning time.  My kids do wake up too early, but they are as sweet and as happy as can be.  A. wanders into my room and, though at least half of the king sized bed is available because B. leaves so early, she squeezes her body right next to mine.  She usually says, "Good morning, I had a good sleep."  On a good morning, when we don't have to rush around for work, she cuddles for 15 minutes then plays on my kindle for a few more before she forces my half asleep body to wake up and start the day.  She is also actually quite philosophical.  The other morning, we had a discussion about why Jesus walked around when he could fly up to heaven.  I mean, once you can ascend into heaven, what is the point of using your feet when you come back to earth.    

Her new morning routine, written on a list of course, is tea in the morning.  We start with tea in our big mugs.

Then, she insists on putting the tea into her tiny, tiny only 1 sip at a time mugs.  

  At least she shares with her brother.

My late riser- he usually gets up between 6:45 and 7.

 Then, they cuddle on the couch.

 See why mornings are so much better!!!

i LOVE fall

I love everything about this season.
1)B. starts to have shorter hours and it is 10 months until the hell that is July in the world of a golf course superintendent.
2) football
3) dinner simmering on the stove on Sunday afternoons-- chili, red beans and rice, beef stew.  It's all amazing
4)  my birthday
5) my birthday
6) tall boots
7) cool weather
8) my birthday
9) festivals and outdoor activities

I have never been apple picking before but we went this past weekend with our great friends.  The kids, had a blast!  And, the parents have a lot of apples to eat!

the Collins and Watson kids.  It was the best of 14 pics... 

Johnny Appleseed maybe?  I don't know who the orange haired girl is though... Thelma from scooby doo?

The hay ride with no hay looked way safer than the John Deere tractor pulling a cartesqe trailer

K. walked from tree to tree then simply picked one apple and spent the rest of the time carrying it around.

The best apple picking outfit ever.  K. will be wearing it next year.

Does he not scream, "I work on an orchard and drive kids around on a tractor all day?"  PS I love John Deere

The only thing better about next year... There is an orchard 15 minutes from our new house!

healthy kids

I LOVE A's preschool.  In fact, on parents night, I left almost in in tears because K. won't go there and A. will have to switch schools before she starts kindergarten.  It is the only preschool that we ever toured that focuses on teaching kids to be friends and how to interact socially.  The curriculum, though is obviously effective since she knows all of her letters and can add any number up to 5 +5, takes a back burner to play and taking turns.

There is only one exception to the rave reviews that I have for her preschool.  It's a stupid thing to worry about and after one brief question at the back to school night, I let it drop.  You know, the boring night designed for parents to sit in tiny little chairs and listen.  Then, not ask questions during the question time without other parents staring angrily at them thinking, "shut up so I can get up off of this yellow chair before both of my legs are asleep."  That's right, I had to ask.

Question:  Timidly raising my hand amongst the stares of others, "A. came home and told me that she can't take a Hershey's kiss for dessert at lunch because she can't have candy.  Is this true?"

Answer:  "Yes, we are trying to focus on eating their healthy stuff so they can't have any candy.  If they wan't dessert they can have fruit snacks or a baked good.

My face:  What?  Are you kidding me with that answer?  I will not challenge this because no one wants to sit here any longer.  But, this is stupid and I am right.

Back story:  when K. was born we were lucky to have a lot of people bring us dinner.  Those very nice people usually also brought us dessert.  Since that time, we started battling A's sweet tooth and my new post pregnancy sweet tooth.  We settled on one chocolate.  Just enough to give the sweetness but not over indulge.  Now I am aloud to pack her fruit snacks which, in case you were wondering, have 80 calories and 19 g of sugar versus one Hershey's kiss has 22 calories and 2.7 g of sugar.  I would understand if they get confused about the "fruit" in the snacks, but a baked good?  Part of me wants to make those cookies that are peanut butter with a hershey's kiss on top.  Are those allowed?

Again, I know it's stupid so I just oblige and am thankful that A. has never brought it up again and is fine with no dessert.

Here's some pics from actually being healthy and running her first race on Sunday 9/30/12.  It was a 3K and my girl ran most of it.  She would go as fast as she possibly could for about 100 feet and then abruptly stop and walk for 5ish feet.  As soon as someone else would pass her, she started again.  Then, we figured out that as long as someone was cheering for her, she would run.  We just took turns clapping and screaming encouragement.  Her little beat red face made it to the finish line!

These 2 little guys ran across the finish line as well.  B., who was a little ahead of us heard another guy say that his only goal was to finish ahead of the two toddlers.  I think he barely made his goal:)

   There were little chocolates at the snack table.  What was missing? fruit snacks.  Again, I reiterate that I'm right.

it's someone's birthday

Well, K's isn't until March and A just had her birthday so who could it be?  That's right, this morning I woke up to, "Mommy, it is Baby Bella's birthday today" You may remember her from here.

Well, lucky us, she apparently turned 4 today (well on 9/22/12).  Then A said she was 2, then when we only had a number 1 candle, she magically turned 1.  Funny thing about birthday's is that in our house that apparently means you get a friend party and a family party.  So, Baby Bella had a party out in the square complete with presents that she wrapped up from K.'s toy bin .

I guess a lot of A.'s friends also enjoy impromptu doll birthday parties.

Of course, birthday's also mean a cake.  Really, why not have an excuse to bake and dump food coloring and sprinkles onto home made cream cheese frosting.  We made this for her "family party" on sunday with Baby Bella's great grandparents.

Yes, we save the candles. Why buy the same number over and over again?  hehe

Interestingly enough, A. woke up on Monday morning, obviously the morning after we finished the delicious banana cake, saying it was Matthew's birthday.  We decided that even if it is his day, he needs to wait and celebrate at least until the weekend.

my dad is cooler than your dad

K.'s has very few loves in his simple little life.  If he could sing, "These are a few of my favorite things." The verses would be only dirt, golf. cars, balls, and buttons.  Lucky for him, Daddy's job has each and every one of these things.  Last Saturday, we spent our morning out playing enjoying Daddy's cool job. I think both kids, (and daddy) were as happy as possible.

on a trip for a little schmoozing before we get tot he fun stuff

"gok" according to K.

Boots are the best for golfing and driving tractors

Daddy teaching the rules. No running on the green!

One of B.'s favorite parts is spread sheets.  Yes, he's a nerd and apparently his kids are as well.  

Driving a skidsteer.  A. called is a "kid steer" and she actually drove it completely by herself.

dirt in one hand and a ball in another.  Nothing could be better

One of my faves