Mother's Day 2012 Promotion

Our most beloved promotion mini-series of the first half of the year (let's face it, holiday card time is another well-loved one too!!). Email me for details!

3:30 PM

Many days, we all hit a 3-4 pm-ish slump. We have to pick Sylvia up at 3:30, which results in post-long school day syndrome. She is combination of tired/cranky/crabby, I have low blood sugar and dream about taking a nap, and Easton is dazed from a weird nap. Since daylight savings happened, I've been trying to kick Easton's nap to the curb. I figured it was a good week to do it, since Syl is out on break and they were both staying up till almost 10 (and waking up at 9:30, eesh!).

But he is the result: Easton is super whiny around 3:30 because his body is used to that mid-day rest, Syl is a bit tired from whatever things we've been doing all day, and I'm hungry and cranky from no down time. Syl benefits from reading quietly in her room, but Easton is 3 and will have no part of it. He plays well by himself, but usually in the morning (it ain't happening mid-day).

All these equations add up to me with a short fuse and a desparate need for a happy hour cocktail (not really possible when alone with small children). I count down the seconds till Dave gets off work, I start texting him nervously asking when he's leaving, what second has he turned his car on, and how bad is the traffic for the next 20 blocks. I'm telling you, it's serious. My only solution is to go exercise as soon as he gets home, leaving him with little transition time from work to home, and making me miss family dinners. I try not to do this every night (especially since a few mornings a week I take Easton to the gym with me), but it's calling my name tonight. The storm clouds are brewing outside, scaring me to go take a run, and forcing me to think about running out the door to the gym.

So what do you all do for a transition? Do you often feel the urge to escape as soon as your other gets home? I know it's a common feeling to have, especially for a mostly work-from-home-mom, but the guilt is ridiculous, and I don't have any other solutions to break that 3:30 funk.

Baby Chicks

We are now a backyard chicken family, officially. And though our coop isn't finished, these girls (hopefully all girls) will be kicking it inside for the next 2 weeks. They are only cute for a short time, then they get awkward, then they get cute & full grown again. I can't wait for our eggs this fall.

Thought

In the loud noise of our days, I wish for moments of slow deep breaths and calm light. Though in both moments, I am grateful for my beautiful family and all the luck we have in our lives.

Boyfriends

Since Syl is at school all day and refuses to tell me anything that occurs (except when friends are bossy and call her stupid, heartbreaking), I have to find the gossip out from her teacher's weekly newsletters or other parents. It turns out that Syl is a bit of a flirt! Apparently her crushes stem not only in her class, but outwards and beyond to the younger pre-k boys and a few older ones. When I found this stuff out from her teacher, I brought it up to Syl in a way as to not embarrass her, but openly and respectfully. Here's roughly how it went down (which is the opposite of how I thought it'd go down):

Me: So babe, I've been hearing you've taken a liking to some boys at your school.

Syl: Mooommmmmmm, it's just a few boys, not all of them.

Me: Ok, are you going to give me details?

Syl: Well, I used to like Pavel and Nigel, but now they're mean to me (a sure sign they like her back, btw). Now I only have eyes for Lucca (whom we have known since our Kangaroo Kids nursing circle days.... his mom is the owner of the store and our kids are about 6 months apart, making both active members of this every Thursday group).

Me: Is that all?

Syl: There are some boys in the preschool I like, and a few older kids, but mainly Lucca. I told him when we have a playdate at my house I'm going to smoosh him.

Me: What's smooshing?

Syl: (laughing and just now getting embarrassed) You know, smoosh, like on the cheek (she makes a kissing face).

Me: No no no, now that's not acceptable Syl. You can't "smoosh" anyone until you are much mcuh MUCH older.

Syl: (who has now formed a general concern for how long she needs to wait till she can "smoosh") Ahhh man, like how long?

Me: Till you can vote.

Syl: Teenagers get to do everything.

And that, my friends, is why having girls is scary. And btw, the teachers have informed me that my daughter is the only girl that plays equally with the girls and boys, but prefers to partner up and assist the male gender. Double ugh.