Day 56: Week 8 & Visiting IKEA…or Goodbye old bed

Dear Fabulous Spouse,

Well, it has been on the promise list since the kids unbanked, but finally we had the money to make it happen.  Today was the big trip to IKEA, and the picking of Oldest Child’s new bed.  Next step…assembly.

We miss you!

Love,

Me

Translation: OMG! Never go to IKEA on a FREE Breakfast for all day!

Ok, so we finally have both money in the account, and time to go to the store to spend it.  So, as promised, we headed to IKEA with our rebate card from Black Friday to get Oldest Child a bed.

As it turned out, since it was Presidents Weekend, it was also FREE breakfast day.  So, needless to say, we were lucky to find parking.  That also meant that there was no chance of getting the little guys into kiddie land (although we think that Illusive Middle Child is too tall anyway) as they were at capacity with parents waiting in line for a chance to drop off. *sigh*

So it was an experience.  We looked at all the rooms and the storage (for future visits as budgets will allow).  Of course, leave it to the kids to find the 710 in the store and have me capture it for you.

Then we were off to the bed department.  Miraculously, Oldest Child ended up picking the same bed that we liked when we picked out the couches.  The little ones took a “nap” during the boring ordeal of mattress testing.  Of course, then we had to pick out the parts…and Illusive Middle Child dropped a palette on his hand.  But no broken bones, no lost children, IKEA delivered.  Overall, a good…albeit long…day.

Goodbye old bed… Now Oldest Child just needs to assemble the new one!

Day 55: The Fancy Nancy Ballet

Dear Fabulous Spouse,
Today we went to the Ballet…the Fancy Nancy Ballet.  Shockingly, the boys opted to stay home and play Xbox.  Therefore, a good time was had by all!

We miss you.

Love,

Me

Translation: Ballet is fancy for a chance to dress up and look FABULOUS!

Girl Friday and her Girl Scout BFF have been looking forward to this day.  The Fancy Nancy Ballet.  Girl Friday dressed in her Fancy Nancy-est ballet attire, and was ready for the show. (Note: This outfit is remarkably low key compared to what some of the girls…and their mothers…were wearing to look trer Fancy Nancy-est).

The illustrator of the Fancy Nancy series was on hand to sign autographs (as a former member of the ballet troupe), and there were glitter stickers, crowns,

... and hand art as well(to make you even fancier). Ooh La La!

Afterwards, the girls got to meet the Ballet Fancy Nancy...

...and the butterflies (especially the Azure Butterfly…the one Fancy Nancy loved)… They have both decided that we have to come back next year.

Afterwards, we went to the U-Top It Frozen Yogurt for after show refreshments, and out total came to a shocking $7.10! LOL. 

We took a picture, because like always, you can never escape the 710!

Day 54: Basketball Game Day #5

Dear Fabulous Spouse,

It is amazing how much the kids have improved.  Had a 9AM and 2:50 Game today, and picked up Girl Scout cookies in between!

We love you and miss you!

Love,

Me

Translation: Will clean for cookies

Illusive Middle child continues to improve his basketball game.  It would be amazing to see how he would do with a real coach and practice more than one hour a day one day a week (not that I am complaining).  He is getting more and more rebounds, and is even getting some goals (points? scores?) in the basket.

On our way to Girl Friday’s game, we picked up our Girl Scout cookies.  It is amazing the power of Girl Scout cookies.  Suddenly with Girl Scout cookies in her future, Girl Friday was ready to play ball… and play she did! (Translation: she followed the ball like a wild girl rather than her mark).  She did get the ball twice.  Both times she got called for travelling.  Oh, well!

When we got home, it was amazing how quickly laundry got done and folded…and the play room even got picked up a bit with the promise of the annual two free boxes of cookies on the line.

Day 53: Pizza & Movie Night

Dear Fabulous Spouse,

Tonight was boys’ night for Pizza and a Movie, as Girl Friday was invited to spend the night at the Neighbor Kid’s house.  We watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, part 2.

We miss you.

Love,

Me

Translation: Boys Rule (and Moms don’t count as girls)

It was boys’ night tonight, and they had a blast.  We had one bottle of sparkling cider left over from Valentine’s Day, so it was Costco Pizza and Apple-Cranberry fizz.  Oldest child asked if he could drink out of the bottle…whatever. LOL!

Also, we have decided that the PS3 is adult proof, as the only one who could figure out how to make it play the movie was Illusive Middle Child.  Go figure!  It was neat to have a boys night (as I do not count as a girl…I am a Mom, and that is different!).

Day 52: 1st Wrestling Match of the Season

Dear Fabulous Spouse,

Today was Oldest Child’s first wrestling match of the year.  He got to be Varsity for 250lb. weight class and did great!  He got pinned, but if he could have lasted 15 more seconds, he would have won on points. Not too shabby!

We miss you.

Love,

Me

Translation: It was a very long night for 3 minutes of action!

We started off with another half day of school.  Good news is that Girl Friday was the star student for the day in her class, and she was SO proud!

After a few hours, I packed up the little guys and the neighbor kid and we headed off to Oldest Child’s first wrestling match of the season.  I was so proud of Oldest Child for securing the Varsity spot in the 250lb. slot for the team.

We were all worried that it would be over in under 10 seconds… a regular occurrence last year.  However, this time around, I think that Oldest Child was in better shape, and had learned a thing or two, so he did much better.  He almost made it to the end of the third period, and if he had not gotten pinned in the last few seconds of the match, then he would have won on points (3-2).

However, it took FOREVER to get to his match.  The powers that be had decided to run the junior varsity matches first, then Varsity.  So, it was almost 6:30PM by the time that Oldest Child finished.  So, we had to race out and run through Taco Bell in order to get Girl Friday to basketball on time.

We got her dropped off, picked up Oldest Child, dropped him and his brother home with their dinner, popped into our Finance Council meeting, then popped back out to pick up Girl Friday and call it a night.

Day 51: Night Off…Not

Dear Fabulous Spouse,

For the first time in a long time, there is nothing on the evening schedule.   After a long day of little kids, it was good to know that there nothing on the schedule…except to pick up Oldest Child from wrestling practice. If only someone had told Oldest Child this.

We Miss You.

Love,

Me

Translation: Can I ever be home by 8pm on a school night?

Oldest Child worries me.  Next year, he is going to be a freshman in high school.  Four years from now, he will be in college and draftable.  Lord willing, in 8 years, he will be a full-fledged adult.

Today was picture day for wrestling.  So, this morning was the first time that I heard about it and received the picture form.  Oldest Child never noticed that his picture form was blank on the B-side…the side with the packages and prices.  So, I got the privilege of dragging three kids to the middle school to get a replacement form, fill it out, and get it to Oldest Child.

After practice, I was so excited and ready to head home and relax, when Oldest Child informed me that his hair was too long for the wrestling match tomorrow and needed to be cut…before tomorrow.  As luck would have it, there was no CCD due to one of the other school districts having winter break, so we swung home to pick up his already prepared dinner and went to get his hair cut.

An hour later, hair is cut, and we are on our way home.  It was then that I was informed that Oldest Child has lost his book report book…somewhere between 2^nd and 3^rd period.  …and he needs the same book, as his English class has a two week series of exercises that are being submitted, and this is week 2.  So, the kids are dropped home, as it is now after 7PM and Oldest Child has homework, and I am off to Barnes & Noble to get a replacement book.  Barnes & Noble had no love for us.  Neither did any of the other 3 Barnes & Nobles in the area…great.

So, now it is 8:30PM, I have just gotten home. 

PS-Actually, if this were any other night, my stress quotient would have been through the roof.  I am actually very thankful that tonight was a night off.

At least I can text you on Facebook.  No?  That is right... Illusive Middle Child and Girl Friday both wanted to talk with you, and they took over the laptop instead! 

Day 50: Happy Valentine’s Day

Dear Fabulous Spouse,

Happy Valentine’s Day!  Divine providence that you finally got your box with your Valentine’s Day cards… three days after it was supposed to arrive.  However, maybe that made it sweeter, as you were able to actually enjoy them on Valentine’s Day!  Try not to OD on the sweets that arrived!

We miss you!

Love,

Me

Translation: Mmmmm… chocolate.  Now get in the car.

Tuesday is a rough day on a slow Tuesday, let alone a holiday. 

This morning started early, 5AM early, as the little guys were excited to see what Valentine’s goodies had been placed at their seats while they slept.  They were especially excited about the little stuffed animals that “Dad” had sent them (way cooler than the chocolates that Mom had gotten them).  In his haste to extricate his Valentine’s mouse, Illusive Middle Child managed to maim his mouse.  It was earth shattering, and required an ER- stat.

After that emergency, it was off to school.  Then it was back to school after Illusive Middle Child realized that he left his box of Valentines in the front room when he put them down to put on his shoes. (However, he did have his mouse).

After school let out at noon, I had three kids high on sugar buzzing about the house.  All that comes up, must come down.  So, by the time that dinner was ready, the little guys were ready to crash and burn.  However, the sight of heart shaped, banana chocolate chip pancakes with whip cream and sprinkles, bacon, and sparkling apple cider was more than enough to perk them up.  Which was good, because the evening was just starting!

First, we dropped Illusive Middle Child off early at his basketball practice (they were working on tip offs in the picture), then we picked up oldest child from wrestling practice and dropped him home for a solo Valentine’s dinner and shower.  Then we got Girl Friday to her Daisy Scout Valentines party…only 10 minutes late! (Woo Hoo! Almost on time!!!)  After getting a slot for sight sales for Girl Scout cookies (Girl Friday is definitely going to be selling less this year as we have only one slot right now), it was back to boys’ basketball.

Now it was time to reverse the process, and go from basketball to Daisy Scouts, to home (to pick up the now fed and sanitized Oldest Child), to Boy Scouts, to home to get the little guys ready for bed…then back to Boy Scouts.

I guess it is a good thing that you were not home and expecting to go out on a date! LOL!

Day 49: Lucky Number 7!

Dear Fabulous Spouse,

Milestone Monday brings week #7! *Phew!* Can you believe that as slow as time is going that SEVEN weeks have actually passed!  Thank you for the awesome chocolate covered strawberries!  They were a total surprise!  Half days all this week at the Elementary school for teachers’ conferences (ours are today).  We are so excited to have the little guys and the neighbor kid home at noon all week.  This is not the nap that you are looking for.

We miss you!

Love,

Me

Translation: Teacher Conference Time

Today was the first day of Conference Week.  That means that there are only 3 hours during the day that are sans children.  That is okay though.  Today was extra special, as I, the resident stay at home mom, got to host two bonus children instead of our usual one Neighborhood Kid. What’s one more?

First was Illusive Middle Child’s teacher, who handed me the gifted student testing release form before I even sat down. LOL!  She agrees that he needs more of a challenge, and for some reason thought that my husband was a lawyer. (Because Illusive Middle Child usually starts a conversation with her, “ But Mrs. Teacher…”  The wheeling and dealing that he tries on her…and succeeds with trying on his peers… amazes her.

Girl Friday’s conference was next.  She is a math rock star, but is in need of remedial reading help.  She started the year at 1.1 and is now only at 1.2. *Sigh*  Soooo, I have a feeling that reading tutoring is in our future as soon as basketball ends.  After all, what good is it to havethe highest mathematics ability in your grade when you cannot read the word problems!

After conferences,  our fabulous Sheri’s Berries arrived at our door.  We were SO surprised!  After much begging  (and of course a guilty conscience) I acquiesced and promised chocolate covered strawberries for dessert.

MR took Illusive Middle Child to the Cub Scout Field Trip to the police station where he got put in jail, but was sad that the police would not tazer him.  Seriously!  I, on the other hand had Parish Planning, complete with wine and cheese.  So, not a bad day afterall!

Mmmmm! Strawberries!

Day 48: Parish Wide Lenten prep

Dear Fabulous Spouse,

Today we lucked out with no morning CCD.  However that meant that there was an afternoon of liturgy and Lenten preparation.  Since we accidentally showed up early, that means we HAD to go get milkshakes to kill time.

We miss you.

Love,

Me

Translation: Why to church functions make me feel like I need penance when I am done?

This morning, we started with making Valentine’s Day cards.  As Girl Friday is as crafty as her mother, that meant 25 from scratch cards for her classroom.  Unlike basketball from yesterday, this was something that she was totally into.

After our morning crafty fun, it was time to head out to church for the Parish wide Lenten prep event.  Of course, I had 1PM on my schedule, and they had 1:30 on theirs.  I figured that it was too cold to hang out, and it would be a waste to go home to turn around and come right back, so we went to Jack in the Box for Oreo milkshakes instead.

I do not know what I expected (something fun and Mardi Gras-ish), but what we got was definitely not it.  We started with a lay-led micro service (complete with readings and music…and the annoying Tammy Faye music lady).  Then the kids were separated 4^th Grade and under (about 5 kids including Girl Friday and Illusive Middle Child)) and 5^th Grade and above (2 kids including Oldest Child), and the adults stayed in the church to be “inspired” about lent.

Then we went to the education center to make a micro-rosary/ good deed abacus.  (they were actually kind of neat) and a Lenten calendar that looked like a board game.  Of course, the kids were bored, wanted to go home, and started getting obnoxious by 3:30.  So they made for the car with our stuff, lost the micro rosaries, and did their best to put me in an unholy and un-Lenten mood.

However, by dinner, it was going much better, and Illusive Middle Child cuddled up as we watched Once Upon a Time and got ready for bed.

Day 47: Basketball Game Day #4 & a Movie

Dear Fabulous Spouse,

Today was another basketball game day.  It was also the weekend release of Star Wars Episode I: the Phantom Menace in 3D, so we went.

We miss you.

Love,

Me

Translation: How long does it take to get Teriyaki Chicken and rice in a Sushi restaurant?

Today was actually our turn to provide snacks for both boys and girls basketball.  No big deal.  This was a chance for us to get rid of the Fritos that were accumulating in the pantry, as the kids never seem to want to eat them in their lunches.

Illusive Middle Child is really getting better.  He is now the tip off center, the ball thrower inner, the primary rebound guy, and is getting enough confidence to start throwing baskets!

This week, Girl Friday was not as into basketball as she has been in the past.  I am not sure if it is because we had a substitute coach, or that she is finally realizing that as the youngest, she may have the passion for the game, but she has not developed all of the skills.  It did not help, that the one time that she did get the ball at the end of the first half, she got called for travelling two seconds later!   In any event, Girl Friday did her time in the first half, but only played the last 3 minutes of the second half.

After basketball, we headed to the theater to see our limited time, 3D Star Wars movie.  Given the choice between 4PM movie and then dinner or dinner and then a 5:20PM movie, they chose the latter.  So, we got our tickets and headed over to Conveyer Belt Sushi!

The first thing that we did was order the little guys’ hot Teriyaki chicken and rice, as they are more a sushi is cool in theory than in practice.  Thirty minutes later, Oldest child and I had eaten our fill, our water glasses were empty and still no teriyaki.  40 minutes… 50 minutes…  it finally came just after 5PM.  So, the starving young ones inhaled their dinner, Oldest Child and I waited…still out of water, and then we hurried to catch our movie!

Save your pennies, you did not miss anything.  After Hugo, this was a big 3D disappointment.  Oh well.  The kids enjoyed it, and I guess that is what counts the most! (This is not the movie that you are looking for...)

Day 46: Pizza & Movie night

Dear Fabulous Spouse,

Gotta love Pizza and a Movie Night.  Tonight was Girl Friday’s pick for movie and Oldest Child’s for pizza.  We miss you.

Love,

Me

Translation: TGIF! …with Pizza

You have got to love Fridays.  It is the only day of the week where we can truly kick back, forget our clones… or lack thereof… and relax.  Goodness, I enjoy these nights!

Girl Friday picked Night at the Museum #2, and all three kids stayed for the whole feature.  That is a win in my book!  As for pizza, it was our usual mod Cowboy…but on thin crust, as Oldest Child is theoretically trying to cut wait for wrestling.  As he is the only one in his weight class right now, I am not sure how motivated he truly is to lose those last 5 pounds…especially as the Varsity kid in that weight class has been pinning kids and winning since last year, and we still count a win as anything more than 10 seconds for the pin.

Day 45: Wrestling Banquet

Dear Fabulous Spouse,

Tonight was Illusive Middle Child’s wrestling banquet.  It was great to see the wrestling gang one last time for the season (and eat lots of pizza).

We miss you.

Love,

Me

Translation: Seriously, where is my clone?

Ok, while we temporarily have a handle on leftover management, the clones have gone missing again.  This time it was during the Wrestling banquet.  Of course the banquet is 6-8:30 (It actually finished at 7:45) and Girl Friday has basketball from 7-8.  No problem…you would think.

However, the coaches started handing out the awards at 6:30.  I had to make the tough mom call and make Girl Friday late rather than chancing missing Illusive Middle Child get his hard won plaque. Yes, at 7:06, his name was called… and Coach even said a little about him, which made him smile (about the New Year’s Eve morning match where he drove Illusive Middle Child, and asked him to help keep Coach awake…since he was battling a rough cold and had not slept much.  Illusive Middle Child was asleep within 10 minutes of the ride!)

So, as per usual, running late, we headed off o Girl Friday’s basketball practice.  Today’s focus was guarding your opponent…an area where Girl Friday can definitely use practice! (she still tends to leave her person and chase the ball).  I left her to check on the boys…and find the banquet wrapping up.  So, I took them home, caught the end of Girl Friday’s practice, and came home with her from that.  Like I said, where is my clone when I need her?