I am NOT a morning person

But waking up to THIS makes dragging myself out of bed just a *teensy* bit easier. If only it were my reality everyday!

When dad is away...

The kids and I will play...with my phone that is! Since spring seems to be refusing to visit us we can't get out and play:( This week's forecast: cold and rainy with a chance of snow on Friday. Ugh.

So dad isn't really AWAY away. He is just gone studying more these days because Step 1 is less than 2 months away! Aack! Only 2 months until THE TEST! The test that can be our ticket to the residency we want. Ya know closer to family OR somewhere warm where we can go out and actually play:)

Side note: Joe is doing awesome studying for Step 1 in addition to all his regular med school studying. I am the one freaking out...the test just seems too big and too important and too soon! The fun bonus of this extra studying is that in the evenings I have been quizzing him on the classic presentation of diseases. Fun (and admittedly sleep-inducing:)

Gated Community

We are back to living in a gated home...the kind filled with baby gates and baby proofing! Because this little girl is figuring out how to move around:) And honestly, I am not sure how I feel about that...

On a far less sentimental note, this sweet baby girl pulled at the collar of my shirt and managed to spit up down my front (inside the shirt)! Totally and completely disgusting. Gotta love babies:)

Worm Collecting

It rained all day long yesterday...and it rained the day before that too. Plus it was cold out. Yuck. Yuck. Yuck!

So I tried my hardest to put on my "fun mom" hat and came up with the idea to go on a worm collecting mission!

And by some miracle the kids and I were ready to go (to meet daddy at school) an entire 15 minutes early! So I pulled out shovels and a bucket and sent my rain gear clad children out the door...

Fun. Cute. Right?

It was all fun and games until Isaiah decided he was going to direct Charlotte and I in worm collecting and not actually do any of the collecting! Let's just say this mom didn't take so kindly to that idea. Did I mention it was cold and rainy and Hannah was crying in the van...

Fast forward 10 minutes. I tell Isaiah it is time to go and NO I will not pick up that worm for you (but thanks for asking again!). He forcefully tells me he is not done and we are not leaving.

And that is where I found the end of my rope...so to speak:) I hate to admit it, but I yelled back. I yelled that in this family we do not speak to each other like that. And it is not okay to be rude and disrespectful to your mother. Um. Hypocrite much? Even as I was saying the words I knew my approach was all wrong. And yet I couldn't seem to find my way back to my rope!

Ugh. This parenting stuff is tough. Why can't worm collecting just be fun and cute like the pictures? Why does it have to be WORK? The disciplining and training of children is not for the faint of heart.

And so today I start again fresh with my son's forgiveness.

How to NOT eat.

Charlotte is quite talented at NOT eating all day...every day! I seriously don't know how she manages to not  eat and have the energy of the Energizer Bunny! I know I am exhausted just trying to keep up with her during the day and I DO eat...probably too much. Seriously baffling.

I decided to document this talent. So for one day I recorded everything she didn't eat. This day was chosen at random.

Step 1: Lick the frosting off your cereal. Do NOT eat actual cereal portion. Give cereal to big brother.

 

Step 2: Ask for more cereal.  Once wish is granted, mix cereal in milk cup until it is a big enough mess that mom takes it away.

 

Step 3: Repeatedly ask for snack until mom gives in. Eat one half graham cracker.  Then proceed to make another mess so mom takes it away.  Make sure to feed the baby her breakfast.  And ensure that she eats every last bite!

Step 4: Pick sausage off pizza and eat. Do not eat the rest of the pizza.  Eat the tips off half a dozen strawberries. But do not eat the entire strawberry!

 

Step 5: Beg for a snack when dinner is nearly ready and insist you can NOT wait 5 minutes to eat. Eat entire string cheese like a civilized toddler:)

Step 6: Completely ignore the big beautiful cheeseburger your dad grilled for you (the first of the season). Ignore the tator tots as well.  Devour the brown sugar laden squash.

Step 7: Spill milk everywhere essentially rendering yourself a big sopping mess and completely uninterested in anything other than a bath...

Step 8: After you are all clean and tucked in bed, repeat the words, "I am hung-gary" over and over again. Even though 5 minutes prior when your parents asked if you wanted a bedtime snack you denied any hunger!

Well of course you are hungry my dear...you managed to consume next to nothing! Her grand intake for the day included:

Frosting from cereal + a handful of cheerios
1/2 graham cracker + a sip of milk
Sausage + 6 strawberry tips
1 string cheese
Butternut squash

And a piece of bread in bed:) Because we aren't cruel.