Circadian Rhythms

Superkid napping in his self designed "Baby Airplane" made from Tadpoles baby chair and two kiddie chairs.

Abizella suspended on two pillows for her cozy nap.

We're all messed up around here. Abizella pooped out on us last night at 5:00 p.m. NOTHING would wake her up. I guess a week of no naps finally caught up with her. Not that the opportunity to take a nap was never presented to her. She and Superkid have just taken to "sneak" back together and play after I have separated them and put them down for a nap. It goes something like this. We eat lunch, read stories, and rub our eyes. One of the kids "naps" on a special bed in their room, while the other gets the privilege of napping on the living room floor. Because they share a room, they must be separated if there is any hope of sleep. After threatening them not to move off of their respective beds, I go lay down with Tadpole. It used to be that the kids would stay put and eventually fall asleep. These days, after about 10 minutes I hear them whispering back and forth through the wall. It isn't too long before I hear them tiptoeing, whispering and giggling together. Now, in the pre-Tadpole days I would jump up and revoke the privilege of sleeping on the floor and cast them into their bed. Now days the big priority is getting Tadpole down for a LONG nap (...okay and a nap for me too) which takes un-interrupted dedication from me. The truth is the kids love naptime because they think they are pulling one over on me by getting up and sneaking to play together, but it is I who have pulled a fast one. Where before naptime the kids are grouchy, contentious and clingy, during naptime they play like darling little best friends. If there happens to be an argument during naptime, it is quickly resolved between the two. There is no way they DARE come and get me lest they get banished to their beds. It is pretty funny to listen to them whisper as they play together.

Only problem is they aren't actually napping. Which brings us back to Abizella pooping out on us at 5:00 p.m. last night. The problem is she doesn't sleep more than 10 hours at a time unlike Superkid who can sleep about 13 hours. So Abizella was up at 3:00 a.m. And when you share a room with your 2 siblings, it is like dominoes falling. I am not going to divulge which parenting technique we used to get through the night, but I will say we won't be winning any "Parent of the Year" awards. So when Andie called at 10:00 a.m. and invited us for a play date, I seized on the opportunity to re-set some clocks around here. At that point Superkid and Tadpole had gone back to bed at 7:00 a.m. and were in a deep sleep. Abizella was firmly affixed to the T.V. I was scared she would go the distance and poop out again at 5:00 p.m. Well, I was going to take no chances. So I pulled Superkid and Tadpole out of their slumber and we hit the road. Abizella got a nice hour-long nap and Superkid perked up as we listened to Christmas music. At one point I could hear his little voice over the music, I thought he was trying to get my attention, but when I turned the music down I heard him bellow out something about Christmas. When I checked him out in the mirror he was blushing at his attempt to sing. After that we both belted out Christmas songs.

We had a great time playing with Boo and Andie and we had a YUMMY CHEESEY lunch too! The kids played in the little pink kitchen and in Boo's tent and then we ended the day with a run to the outlet mall. The kids crashed in the car and Andie and I took turns doing some quick shopping while the other circled the parking lot with a van full of slumbering kids. At least that was the plan. In reality I shopped first and when I got back to the van I knew things had gone ugly when I saw Andie facing the rear of the car with her Jazz hands working the feisty crowd. Because the kids were up she got a much more abbreviated shopping trip. Exhausted after my long night, I didn't attempt to put on a show for the kids. I just pulled out the fruit snacks and juice. No matter how ugly it got, it was still better than shopping with 4 grouchy kids!

And what about the kids? Well, it is 9:23 and they both are still up...but they are fighting sleep. I was just hoping they would make it until 8:00 p.m. Cross your fingers, but I think we might actually make it through the night! I just hope we haven't messed Boo up too much... she didn't get her nap today! I hope she didn't crash for the night at 5:00 p.m. in the car on the way back home!

First Giggles

Nothing like church to bring out a good chuckle. Tadpole must have been inspired by Craig McGill, because he laughs just like him, just not as loud (yet). MJ called it. She and Emerson were sitting with Tadpole and the babies were chatting. Tadpole must have felt a little awkward and silly talking to such a foxy baby so he started to giggle.

And the really fun part of a giggling Tadpole is that he is SUPER ticklish. It took a determined S.K. to get giggles out of Superkid and Abizella when they were novice gigglers (S.K.'s X-man power is getting babies to laugh, it is kind of like the horse whisper but instead of having a calming effect she can get a baby into hysterics). But Tadpole needs little encouragement. He giggles and squirms when I change his clothes (which is probably a good thing because I am not sure that S.K.'s powers extend half way across the country).

In other Tadpole news, this kid is a hulk (a hunky little hulk). He no longer can straighten his legs in most of his jammies so I pulled out his 6 to 9 monthers. I held up a pair and said to myself that these jammies would be ridiculously large. Turns out I was the ridiculous one, the jammies fit just right. I probably should have pulled them out a few weeks ago before poor Tadpole had to crouch in his own jammies.

One more development, Tadpole has discovered his hands in the last couple of days. He now rubs his eyes when he is tired, and gone are the days he can sit on my lap while I read books to the big kids. He really goes after the pages and drives his siblings nuts (probably the beginning of a beautiful siblinghood!).

Me?

1. I really don't like TV. I realize how un-cool this makes me. I find it boring, and will only watch it to be social (how weird is that?). Don't get me wrong, I do like it as a third parent. I never know who is more scared, me or the kids, when I threaten to put it in the basement. The only exception is PBS, but I won't even watch this by myself. I love NOVA and American Experience but rarely watch them because they are on past my bedtime because...
2. I LOVE mornings. My favorite way to spend the morning is to exercise, especially swimming. My favorite mornings were spent at Steiner Aquatic Center. I can almost smell the sage brush scent coming down across the pool with the canyon breeze. I love the the quiet splash of water. I love diving into the water through the steam while it is still dark outside, and climbing out of the pool as the sun finally creeps over the mountains. These days I swim indoors, but I still run outside. And living so close to the ocean, I run along the coast where I can hear to waves and breath the salt air.
3. I am absolutely vain about my feet. They are little and petite and I have the cutest little button toes. ...or maybe I should say they "were" little and petite. I have been in denial for awhile now. Having 3 kids is catching up to me. I am going to have black toe nails from my running shoes if I don't break down and buy a new pair. I hate to admit it, but my feet have grown.
4. I have wandering blood. I LOVE going places. When I was a kid I preffered going over to my friends house to staying at home. This is not a comentary on my childhood home, I love my home and family. I am just not a homebody. Same goes for today. I like to get out every day. Before I got married, I lived in both Russia and China and traveled through Europe and Asia. These days my travels include the library, Target and Costco (hey it is a 30 minute drive!). I plan to expand my travels as soon as possible!
5. I am an avid flosser. I don't miss a day. A little something I learned from my great Aunt Beatie who kept ALL of her teeth until she died.
6. I love to garden, but am creeped out by bugs. This is in contrast to my mom who loves to garden and LOVES the bugs. She actually can't let a "good" bug go. She has a freezer full of her best treasures because, "You just don't know when somebody is going to need a bug collection for school." There is nothing like going out to the garage to sniff out mom's secret stash of ice cream to find it gaurded by a baggy full of frozen triantulas.

I am not going to tag anyone... mostly because this is the first time I have participated in anything like this. My apologies to anyone who has sent me a recipe exchange or blogging challenge in the past or future. But if you would like to post 6 little things about yourself, I would love to read it!

Brag Entry

I LOVE having folks from the West (which is almost ANYONE, if you know what I mean) come to visit. I LOVE New England and I LOVE to show it off to anyone who will give me the time. Trouble is, after being here for 6+years, it is probably time to freshen up the tour a little bit. You know this is true when your visitors are giving you driving directions (albeit with the aid of GPS)! But I never get tired of these hot spots, so hopefully my guests don't either!

The Missletoes pattented South Shoreline Lighthouse Drive...

A Hot Spot for rock hopping!

The most moving production this Nation's Park Service has ever produced (I realize the bar may not be too high here, but the Minute Man National Historical Park brings Pops to tears every time).

A chance to take over Boo's nature appreciation education while everyone is being patriotic. Once I got her to put the phone away she enjoyed such wonders as rocks, leaves, sitcks, lichen and even moss. She did not enjoy pine cones, could be the resemblence to the packages her golden retriever Addy leaves behind.

A stroll (or aerobic climb) up Author's Ridge at Sleepy Hollow Cemetary to see Emerson's, Thoreau's, the Alcott's, and Hawthorn's final resting place.

A not so restful escape from the Headless Horseman (AKA Uncle B) by Superkid

Wrestling 5 kiddos back into their car seats over and over and over again!

A brisk walk to cross the bridge where the, "Shot heard around the world" was fired.

And finally something the kids could REALLY enjoy. A morning at the Children's Museum to burn off energy for the LONG plane ride back west.

Spiderkid's favorite web

And a sad parting.

The Thanksgiving Dinner That Couldn't Be Beat

(cue "Alice's Restaurant Massacree")
There is no place like Andie and HH's! We LOVE being in Andie's and HH's home on any occasion, but especially Thankgiving! Hospitality really is their X-Man power. Not only do they cook up a storm (click here for details) but I never leave there without laughing until my face hurts and lounging until I have to be scrapped off their extremely comfortable cozy couch. Their home is definitely on my "Happy Place" list.

Over the river and through the woods to Andie and HH's house we go!


Here are the kids aspiring to cook up a meal as masterful as Andie's and HH's (Superkid is cooking my FAVORITE Thanksgiving dish "Todd's Yummy Yummy Yams Yum Yum!").

Iz is up to her elbow pulling 10 lbs of potato peels out of the sink

The moment we have been dreaming of...

The 2nd anual, "Dance of the Sugar Plum Turkies"


The 3rd anual "Snooze of the Overstuffed Turkies"


I am thankful for a memory loaded, delicious, WONDERFUL New England Thanksgiving! I am especially grateful we spent the day with Uncle Hootie, Auntie Munch, Uncle B, Aunt J, that crazy Shoe Obsessed Family and their Gourmet Dessert-Making neighbors!

Identical?

Pop's twin brother and his family came to town for Thanksiving. Over the years people have asked if Pops and Uncle B are identical twins. It remains a mystery to this day. My favorite story of their mistaken identity is the time when our Bishop here in New England was in Salt Lake. He was out for a morning jog near a canyon when he saw Pops out running with a dog. Well our bishop was excited to see Pops 2500 miles from where he expected him to be, however when he aproached Pops, Pops didn't act like he recognized our Bishop at all. Our Bishop was dumb founded. The runner looked like Pops, acted like Pops, talked like Pops... and then Uncle B said he wasn't Pops, but his twin.

Uncle B and Aunt J had a little baby girl 11 months after Abizella was born. I have been scrutinizing pictures of Iz since she was born to find any resemblance to Abizella. My reasoning being that Abizella looks so much like Pops, that if Iz looked at all like Uncle B than Iz and Abizella could pass as twins. After spending a few days with her, I have to conclude she does not look like Abizella's twin... but maybe could pass as a sister (being 11 months apart... her Irish twin!). Here is a picture of Abizella at 16 months:


And Cousin Iz


We have discovered a family trait... NONE of our kids are hearty eaters.

Superkid to the Rescue!

The scene: There I was, literally buried in laundry. I was just about to be wrestled down by stray socks and smothered by a heap of sheets and towels. Enter Superkid. He said, "Mom, that looks like a lot of work. Can I help you?" (Dum, Dum, da da Dum Dum da Dum Dum Dum da da Dum Dum da da… superman theme). He then heroically proceeded to stuff the stacks of folded clothes in their appropriate drawers.

Later in the evening Pops and I were enjoying a bowl of tomato soup and reminiscing about how it was over a bowl of tomato soup that the heavens opened and Pops knew that I was the girl for him. The conversation went something like this, "Do you like crackers with your soup?" questioned Pops. I replied, "The question is, do I like soup with my crackers!" That is when Pops knew. And once again last night Superkid came to the rescue. He stood on a little chair between us crumbling saltines into our soup.

The Littlest Toad

How can I resist a boy that looks at me like this...

Okay, so he looks at his Pops the same way (this is easier to admit than saying those are my furry arms)...

We're pretty happy to have little Tadpole around!

Running with the Pack

I met some friends out in the woods before day break Saturday morning. Just about the ONLY way that I will get up in the dark, windy, wet, cold morning to go running is for the social benefit. My friend J, who runs through the woods regularly, suggested sticking to the sticks rather than the main road to protect us from the wind. We chatted and huffed and puffed our way through the woods as it gradually got lighter and lighter. I was looking further down the path when this BEAST darted across the path. It was the size of a deer but was dark and had a long white plumey tail and a dog head. My first question is, are coyotes THAT big? My second question is, why after totally freaking out, did I continue to follow my friend TOWARD the BEAST? She claims it was a deer, but I got a better look and (in my eye docotor's words) I have "better than perfect vision". Was it because I was afraid of being lost in the woods? Or because I have no brain of my own? The truth is that I subscribe to the family mantra, "It is better to die than to look bad."

This truth was taught to me in my formative years mainly by my dear Uncle D. Without actually ever being told so, everyone knew that you just don't lose face in front of Uncle D. For this reason I found myself with my toes curled into vertical red sandstone climbing up to Indian ruins, or biting my lip as I crossed the gates into the ungroomed back-country at Alta, or trying not to close my eyes and cry while motorcycling through rivers and up steep hills, or strapping on a waterski, kneebooard, or bump-r-ride knowing that Uncle D had a homing device for the most wavey portion of the lake. Why is it better to die than to look bad? I'm not sure. But I have had a lot of fun almost dying over the years, and I think it actually built a little confidence in me over the years.

However, now that I have 3 children who depend on me, I informed J. this morning that I will not be running through the woods before daybreak again.

Punk Rock Girl!

Anyone Else Struggling With the Time Change?

6:00 p.m. Monday

6:00 p.m. Tuesday


6:00 p.m. ... a little too late for nap time, a little too early to go down for the WHOLE night.

The Spirit of Halloween

Even after the Halloween decorations have been packed away, the costumes have been Oxy-cleaned, and the candy has been consumed, the memory of a great holiday lives on. Superkid emerged from his bedroom Sunday not as the cutest Sunbeam, but as, "Ghost-Dog" in his, "Ghost-Dog mask".

We spared his Sunbeam teacher from the "Ghost-Dog" by making him leave the "mask" in the car at church, but she still had to contend with the, "cutest Sunbeam" (which is my designation, not hers).

Happy Birthday Boo!

No Noreaster can keep us away from Boo's AMAZING FARM DAY BIRTHDAY PARTY! The kids had such a good time, you would have guessed it was actually their OWN birthday. Look at the thrill on Abizella's face when it was birthday cake time.

Superkid burned it up racing through the hay pile.

The kids had the BEST lunch EVER of Cheetos, Doritos, birthday cake and ice cream.

Boo barely got to open her own gifts with Abizella and Superkid there to hand her gifts, help remove bows, and just out and out rip open her gifts when Boo wasn't ripping fast enough.

WE LOVE YOU BOO! Thanks for inviting us to your party!

The BEST Pile of Leaves EVER!

This is the BEST pile of leaves EVER because we didn't have to rake it up! Our friend Holly called us up and said her gardner made a pile of leaves in her yard that needed some kids to jump in it. I added my pile of kids to her pile of leaves and we had a great big pile of kids and leaves. ...and we had a lot of fun too. Holly also is a knitting wiz and made Abizella this cute little sweater to keep her warm on chilly NE days. Thanks fora great day Holly!