Mom's group, retail therapy, and Cailey

I've had a very busy week. We went to the playground on Monday and then walked around the mall for awhile. On Tuesday I joined a new mom's group and took Ben to a playgroup at an indoor playground. It was fun for Ben and I enjoyed the company of other moms. I have been really resistant to the idea of a playgroup ~ it just seems like so much work and so contrived to get together with people you really don't know and then talk about kids the whole time...has anyone seen Little Children with Kate Winslet?...that's how I envision myself at playgroups...not really a "team player" with the other moms and not as rigid in my parenting style...so I find I don't have a lot in common. But (sigh), I need to get Ben some social time with kids his own age and I am getting tired of spending time at the playground all by myself. I guess I am still trying to adjust to being a SAHM :o) Anyway, I like the mom's group I joined. They do a lot of activities and there are about 30-40 members...but, not all show up for all the events so I will get to meet a lot of new moms each time. I am going with an open mind and hoping to meet some new people with similar interests and, of course, some new friends for Ben.

I also tried a little "retail therapy." I went to the mall on Sunday, by myself!, and spent an unreasonable amount of money ~ I won't even say how much I spent because it's the most money I have ever spent on clothes! I have no intention of keeping most of the things I purchased. It was just nice to wander the mall and spend some money on myself. I never imagined that retail therapy worked ~ but it does and I felt much better after I got a chance to spend a little money (or a lot of money!)...even though I already returned or will return most of the items...I still felt a little surge of renewed self from my little outing! AMAZING! I have even decided that walking the mall is a great way to spend the mornings with Ben and great exercise for me. We spent Monday and Thursday at the mall and had a great time! We like to stop at the pet store and play with the puppies and the bunnies. So much fun to see Ben get excited over the animals!

Cailey is getting older ~ obviously :o). But last night I got yet another affirmation of this fact. My all time favorite children's book is The Monster at the End of This Book (a Grover Sesame Street book), and I have read it to Cailey several times since she was a baby. Now, each night we have Cailey choose a book to read to us so she can practice her reading. Last night she chose The Monster at the End of This Book and read the whole thing through without any help! As she read I kept having visions of her as a baby, sitting in my lap as I read the book to her ~ she would giggle when we made funny voices or we exaggerated any of the words/phrases. Now, here she is reading me the story and I couldn't help but feel very proud, old (ha), and very good about this point in our lives. I have loved every stage and every milestone that Cailey has reached thus far and I am very excited to see what her future holds for her.

Happy Friday and have a safe and fun Labor Day weekend!!!!

Hiking in Colorado

We took Ben on his first hike ~ in the backpack ~ and Cailey's first independent hike...no more backpack for her! They both did a great job and we hiked for about an hour and 45 minutes. Ben fell asleep in the backpack on the way down, but woke up in time to wade in the river...a little family tradition :o) It was nice to get out of the house and spend time together without spending a lot of money :o) Of course, we had to stop at the Beau Joe's Pizza place in Idaho Springs after our hike...another tradition! Cailey did much better than I thought she would...with several "rests" ~ her idea...because Mom and Dad didn't need to rest..nope, no way, not us...we're in perfect shape (HA!). Cailey also loved finding walking sticks along the way. We told her how Grandpa Rich always finds a walking stick for our hikes and she loved the idea and used a walking stick for most of time. Ben loved the sound of the echos through the mountains and he loved all the dogs that we saw along the way ~ people sure do love to bring their dogs on hikes. We stopped at the top (well, almost the top) and ate our oranges and rice krispy treats...yet another tradition, thanks to Grandma Kathryn! We got some great pictures and we are planning on another hike this weekend...I hope! It's great exercise for all of us ~ especially Scott who gets to carry Ben (yikes!) in the backpack ~ that's no small feat and I admire my husband for being able to manage the hike with Ben on his back :o)

Hiking is so much fun!
Resting to eat snacks before heading back down the mountain:

A little exploring out of the backpack:

Wading in the river:

Aaaahhhhh ~ now that's cute!

What is going on with Ben?

I think Ben has officially started the terrible twos...or at least something is going on. I guess it could be that he is cutting four molars, or that Scott came home yesterday and he's out of sorts (Ben ~ although the same could be said for Scott...HEE HEE), or maybe Ben is just being two. In any case, he is grumpy, whiney, and in a general bad mood. He has cried and thrown tantrums so much that now we are all at our wits end! I am hoping it's just teething and nothing more ~ like an ear infection...which, it should be noted, he hasn't had since he has been out of daycare for the past four months!!! Poor Cailey has been trying to stay calm even when Ben is clearly trying to pick fights with her!! She's a wonderful big sister and now that Ben is tucked snuggly into bed with a dose of Motrin for the teething, we are going to roast marshmallows in the fire pit outside. She deserves a little special treatment since Ben has been a terror all day and taken most of the attention :o) We are all hoping that a good nights sleep will do everyone a world of good!

Last day

Scott comes home tonight!!! Yeah!! Yipee!! We sure have missed him!

Ben and I went to the park this morning to try and pass the time. Ben has been asking to go for a couple of days and I finally broke down and took him :o) Thankfully, he is now a full fledged two year old and hates it when I hover at the playground...he just wants to play without me following him everywhere. I am still more than a little anxious about him playing on the tall/high parts of the playground set (I have visions of him falling and breaking something :o/), but I know I have to give him some space. today, I was able to read a little and just watch him play, which is a nice change and I enjoyed it very much. Ben made some friends ~ girls, of course. The one little boy that was there was promptly told to "go away!" ~ don't worry, I properly chastised Ben for being rude and threatened going home...which works beautifully because Ben hates to leave the park. I guess he was just trying to eliminate the competition in true male form :o) :o) It still fascinates me the difference between little boys and little girls. Ben is so much more rough and tumble (but not aggressive, just more willing to take a fall and move on to the next thing). He can be a bit intimidating to the little girls, but they seems to warm up to him quickly and then follow him all over the playground...he's really a chick magnet :o) :o)

The new dentist

We went to the kids' new dentist today. I really like her and her staff ~ it's a refreshing change from what we have experienced in the past. This was a pediatric dentist and the office was set up just right. Cailey did great ~ considering she has been traumatized in the past and doesn't really like the dentist. She sat very still and let them clean her teeth and take x-rays! Ben, on the other hand, didn't do as well. I was so surprised ~ I thought he would be fine...silly me. He cried the minute we stepped back into the room! I was really, really not expecting that. He hated the whole experience and I had to sit with him and hold his hand ~ so no pictures of him actually getting examined, but I did take some of him playing with their toys :o)

No cavities or concerns with either child! YIPEE, YIPEE, YIPEE! I can't imagine trying to get cavities filled with these kids! Cailey has great teeth and Ben's "look really beautiful!" The dentist seemed to be pleasantly surprise at how clean and white his teeth are ~ that's because he loves to brush his teeth and play with the toothbrush...which is why I thought he wouldn't mind the dentist ...hhhmmm

Ben playing with the toys in the dentist office:

Cailey getting her teeth cleaned ~ she did a great job, but you can see how tense she is:

Ben playing with the elevator while we wait for Cailey to go to the bathroom ~ "I'm not doing anything Mom.":

A healthy dose of fright

Ben got his first real dose of fright today. I dropped Cailey off at school and let Ben play on the playground while I talked to some of the other moms. I saw Ben standing next to the slide looking around ~ I was just out of sight next to one of the other moms...Ben couldn't see me. All of a sudden Ben starts crying/screaming "MOMMY" while running towards the sidewalk that leads to the front of the school. Of course, I start after him (he's super fast when he wants to be!) and yelling, "I'm right here, Ben, I'm right here." Ben turned around and flung himself into my arms and wrapped his arms around my neck so tight I thought he was going to cut off the circulation! He cried while I assured him I would never leave him like that! Of course, the other moms are saying "ooohhhhh" (while laughing and smiling) because, quite frankly, it was the cutest thing to see...I mean I hated to see him so distraught, but at the same time it's nice to know he would care if I did leave ;o)

Later, we went to the Post Office and he stayed right next to me. Like I said, I think it was a healthy dose of being scared out of his wits...he suddenly realized that he could get separated from me ~ and he didn't like that one bit!!!

Too much pizza

Ben had a rough night last night. I believe it's from the 2 and 2/3 pieces of pizza that he ate!!! The kids go through peaks and valleys with their appetites. When they are going through a growth spurt they eat like full grown adults and then the spurt is over and they will go days with only enough food to fill up a bird. So, last night Cailey wanted pizza. We picked up a medium Pizza Hut pan pizza (cheese) for dinner. Ben scarfed down 2 pieces and then asked for a third. I asked him if he really wanted it and he said yes ~ not unusual for him to eat a lot when he is going through one of those growth spurts. He ate about 2/3 of the third piece and then went and played for about an hour and a half before I laid him down for bed. He woke up about 45 minutes later with a low, groaning kind of cry...very unusual for Ben...once he's asleep he stays asleep. I picked him up and tried to rock him, but he couldn't get comfortable and was very irritable. I figured he had a tummy ache from all the pizza so I gave him a children's Pepto and tried to rock him again. Finally, I was able to get him to sleep but he woke up again about 30-40 minutes later crying for water. Poor thing...I think his tummy just couldn't take all the pizza. Anyway, he was better after he had some water and now we know that 3 pieces of pizza is just too much for him ;o) You'd have to see it to believe it ~ a two year can eat that much, but not without serious tummy consequences!

Happy Friday

Well, it's been a long week, but we made it. Scott will be home in one week and Cailey completed the first week of school. Today seems to be a good day. I am in high spirits (for no particular reason) and Ben has been really good the last few days. I have decided that running errands with one child is easier than two no matter the ages. Cailey is a big help, but she is still another person to keep track of and she tends to antagonize Ben and makes him scream/cry. Ben and I have dropped Cailey off each morning and then run all our errands. This morning we were done and home by 9:45am. Then, we were able to water the flowers and trim all the bushes and trees in the yard. We even got to clean the toy room! All before lunch!!! That is a big feat for us.

Ben is missing Daddy ~ I think he finally realized that he hasn't seen Daddy in a while. Last night in the car he said, "Daddy go? Daddy airplane. Daddy home, play wif me?" I guess the gist of it was: Where did Daddy go? Daddy went on an airplane (can't believe he remembers that ~ I am always amazed at what the little ones can remember) and was Daddy home yet to play with him. Too cute. Cailey had a cry fit the other night ~ she says because she was missing Daddy, but I suspect it was more because she was in trouble for back-talking ...hhhmmmm...convenient.

I am trying to complete a thousand tasks/projects this week and next. It's hard when you only have a couple of hours to fit everything in ~ I usually only have the time when Ben is napping. Ben only slept about 30 minutes today ~ very unusual for him. He usually sleeps at least 2 hours. I can only hope he isn't coming down with something...ugh!

First Day of 2nd Grade

Cailey officially started 2nd grade today. She was very excited to get back into school. She didn't want me to walk her to her line "Mom, I know where the line is...I know this school!" Still, I asked her to humor me since it was the first day of school "Ugh, MOM!" She lined up in her class line and started talking to her friends that are in her class this year ~ she forgot (or tried to forget) that I was there! When the line went in, she didn't even look back ~ I cried like a big wimp...more because she clearly didn't need me to help her get to class or help soothe any school fears. I guess it's inevitable, but it still made me sad to have the realization slap me in the face like that. She's seven going on seventeen ~ God help us!
Cailey with her new teacher, Ms. Larsen ~ I have know idea what is wrong with this picture...I can't figure out why it's all cloudy like this...:o)

On another note ~ if Ben is quiet, you better find him...see picture below! He was sitting on the floor next to me while I typed this post and I thought he was reading a book ~ but, no. He was drawing on himself! Where did the pen come from??? Even as I type now, he's into something else...I can hear the ripping sound!!!! BEEEEEEN!!!!

The last day of summer vacation

We decided to end the summer with a little bit of fun ~ went to Boondocks ~ never been there, not sure we'll go back, but is was still a good way to end the summer before school starts tomorrow! I was going to stay home today, buuuut at the last minute the kids and I got our stuff together in about five minutes and hit the road. I wouldn't tell Cailey where we were going and it was driving her crazy the whole way there ~ she can't stand suspense. Anyway, it was a fun time and Ben has been in a relatively good mood all day ~ considering he only slept 30 minutes on the way home.

Look Grandpa Gar...Ben's learning to race already!!

Getting drenched on the Bumper Boats ~ and you get really wet ~ the other boats can spray you with water. Oh boy, the pre-teen/teen age kids think it's hilarious to get everyone as wet as possible. Ben and I were in the boat for all of about 2 minutes before some kid sprayed Ben in the face...and then we were done...with Ben crying the whole way back to the side of the pool and every little kid spraying him on the way...grrrrrrr:

Cailey on the Go-Karts ~ she was SOOOO serious while she was driving...these are the only pictures I could get of her smiling or almost smiling. She said she had a great time and it was really, really fun...she was just so serious about driving :o)...

Aaaand, now it's time to go home...

Grrrrrrr

I am angry today...very angry...and very stressed out. I am trying, and so far, I am successful at keeping my cool...sort of. I have little patience and I know I have snapped at Cailey and Ben one too many times. And the guy at Subway this evening got the full brunt of my fury...although he had it coming, the little punk ~ charged me $.50 for two pieces of bacon and charged me extra for a sandwich with only "extra" cheese and NO meat on it...what the %^&$! Okay, like I said, I was just a tad on edge!

The cause of my short fuse: Scott left yesterday for Wisconsin to attend graduate school for two weeks ~ I am angry about that...I know it's not his fault (and it could be worse ~ think of all the soldiers that leave their families for months/years!), but I am still angry...I am left here to attend to everything on my own and it seems to be the worst two weeks possible for him to be gone. Cailey starts school on Wednesday ~ with Scott gone that leaves me to do everything by myself. This morning we had Cailey's teacher conference and school pictures at 8:30am. That means I am left to fill out all the paperwork, purchase, gather, organize, and label all school supplies (do they really need all this stuff?), pay all the fees (school directory, lunch money, science fees, school sweatshirt, etc.), get her school pictures taken ~ which means I have to get her up and into the shower and then do her hair (WWIII started in our house this morning), get breakfast for Ben and Cailey, dress myself (I considered arriving to school still in my pajamas ~ I would look stupid, but I would have still been smiling :o). We met with the new teacher (by myself!...with Ben in tow...oh my!). At least the teacher seems to be really nice and very experienced ~ thank goodness! After last year, we need a good teacher :o)

Starting on Wednesday I will have to fight with Cailey to get up in the morning, get her to the bus, get her to dance on Wednesdays and Thursdays. I haven't even mentioned the normal, every-day routine stuff like bedtime, baths, lunch, dinner, etc. ~ I just can't think of that right now! On top of all the kids' stuff, Scott leaves me a couple of "tasks" ("oh, Honey I need you to do this while I am gone"...GRRRRR...cause I don't have enough to do, apparently). He wants me to send in the rebate crap from the new computer (why am doing this????), take back the paint that Kwal Paints can't seem to get the color correct on ~ needs to be done soon so that our receipt doesn't expire even though we have already taken it back twice. Maybe I'll wait a few days for the paint and let my anger really build...it would give me a good release to yell at those guys!!! Kidding. You know, I have my own projects to take care of ~ call Richmond Homes and make sure they are working on a solution to fixing our attic furnace (long story!), get thank you cards out for Cailey's birthday party, fix the photo printer, call Amy to get the "final" word on Thanksgiving plans before the flights fill up! Of course, starting on Wednesday Cailey will have nightly homework to further the pain.

Also, we had a Girl Scout meeting tonight ~ a special "back-to-school" meeting at the park and a chance for the parents to fill out yet more paperwork. However, that turned out to be a nice time-out for me. The kids could run around at the park and I could have adult conversation ~ I forgot that existed :o) Also, I realized it helped relieve some of my tension.

Just checked voice mail. The kids' dentist office called this morning to inform me that the dentist won't be back from Iran in time to make our original appointment...so can we reschedule for next month!!! Oh, that reminds me...I now need to find a new dentist for the kids!!!

I am hoping to get a good night sleep and apologize to my kids first thing in the morning. Maybe breakfast at IHOP will do the trick! Note to self: I am not cut out to be a single mom...I guess I better start being nicer to my husband :o) HEE HEE HEE (sorry Honey!).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAILEY ~ for real

Cailey's official birthday, today, was spent up near Bailey at the Girl Scout Tomahawk Ranch. At the last minute, I was able to join her for the day! We had such a blast. The girls slept in nice lodges with kitchens, bunk beds, and full bathrooms ~ not really "roughn' it" :o) They spent the day touring the ranch, doing crafts, launching home made "rockets" (made from empty water bottles), making swaps, hanging by the fire singing camp songs (oh my!), playing on the bunk beds, sharing cupcakes and singing Happy Birthday for Cailey, and walking, walking, walking ~ my feet hurt really bad and the girls were so tired they could barely take it any more. They were supposed to make S'mores at the camp fire and then do a night walk, but the rain and lightning started and the girls had to spend the rest of the night in the lodges. Apparently, that was just as well because they got to get into their pajamas and make S'mores in the microwave and then play "mattress surfing" (stack four mattresses on the floor, then run as fast as you can and jump on the mattresses ~ the top one or two mattresses go flying across the room with the girl hanging on for a fun ride!!!). I didn't get to spend the night but I hear they were asleep shortly after lights out (around 10:30pm)! This morning they had to clean (and I mean really clean) their lodge, get breakfast, participate in swaps (they trade the swaps they made with swaps that other troops at camp made ~ it's cute), and participate in final flag ceremonies. They really know how to keep these girls busy ~ I guess that keeps them out of trouble :o). I describe the whole thing as almost organized chaos :o) It was a wonderful experience for Cailey and I hope we can do it again next year ~ maybe even for a whole week! It was a great way for Cailey to spend her birthday...it was a special experience. I have TONS of pictures ~ this is only a sample. I am putting together a slide show and I will see if I can upload it to this blog. Enjoy!

Half of the girls ~ Alyssa, Taylor, Cailey, and Lauren:

At the farm ~ bunnies, horses, chickens, donkeys...oh my:

Playing games to pass the time ~ there was a lot of "hurry up...and wait":

The girls showing off their homemade rockets and aliens:

Enjoying the camp fire fun ~ singing and silliness...just what Cailey loves!:
Closing flag ceremonies courtesy of Troop 1240:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAILEY ~ almost

We celebrated Cailey's birthday today because she will be going to Girl Scout Camp bright and early tomorrow morning. So today we celebrated by going to see the movie Underdog ~ Amy's voice-over was fabulous, by the way :o) :o) Then, we finished making Cailey's birthday cake...yes, I baked her cake and then Cailey and I decorated it together!!! Then, we had a party at Fat City. It was a very small party ~ we decided that works best for us. We have had BIG parties in the past and they are just too overwhelming for everyone. Cailey had her friends Keelan and Molly there (Jacqueline and Madisyn had to cancel at the last moment) and, of course, cousins Matt and Zach were there ~ and Ben, too! Tonight, we just finished packing for camp and we will probably go to breakfast in the morning and then head up to Bailey. I am going to stay the day with her and then drive home late tomorrow night ~ I can't stay the night because I am taking Scott to the airport Sunday morning ~ boo. Enjoy the pictures ~ there are a ton!

Mommy, Daddy, and the Birthday Girl:

Cailey and our homemade cake :o) ~ designed by Cailey and all. Can't believe there are SEVEN candles on her cake now!:

Celebrating with pizza, cake, and presents:

Arcade fun:

Playing in the Foam Factory:

One last ride on the Twister: