Easter Weekend

We had a really nice but busy Easter weekend.  Charlie and I took Good Friday off.  The weather has been so nice lately that I thought it would be a good day to go to the zoo, especially since it was the last week for winter rates.  My parents and brother came to visit also.  Laci was so excited about everyone coming that she woke up at 5:45.  Apparently, she didn't get the memo that she is supposed to sleep in on stay at home days... or at least until 7 or so.  My parents got to my house around 1 and by 1:30 we were off to the zoo.  Unfortunately, no nap plus lots of excitement led to a complete meltdown at the zoo.  Laci was so excited that she just went berserk.  After her breakdown, I got her calmed down and the rest of the visit was nice.  Plus, I got a nice arm workout by carrying her around for 20 minutes while she screamed.  She stayed up late that night so she could read to Grandma and show Grandpa the stars and planets outside.  

 

Calvin enjoying the animals

A calmed down Laci hidden in the snake. 
I love this picture.

All the excitement Friday lead to Laci sleeping in on Saturday.  By sleeping in, I mean 7:30.  We decided to go to the Easter Egg Hunt at the kids daycare at 11.  I was really disappointed.  Usually, events at their school are really well done and we have a good time.  This time, it was almost too organized and scheduled.  The flyer said 11:00 a.m.  So I assumed the egg hunt would be near 11 and the crafts and activities would be after that and home by 12:00 for Calvin's nap.  Unfortunately, 11 was just the gathering time, following by lunch at 11:30, crafts from 12:00 - 2:00 with the egg hunt at 1:30.  I had not planned on a 3 hour event so we left after the lunch.  At least we got some hot dogs out of the deal.  

 



A big bump on the forehead is all Calvin got
at the Easter Egg Hunt.  :(

That afternoon, we planted my garden, colored Easter eggs, made cookies and went to the park.  By evening, I am not sure who was more tired - the kids or Grandma and Grandpa.  

Sunday morning was Easter.  We have never really played up the Easter bunny.  I think my parents were surprised that we didn't make a big deal about it.  But we did set out Easter baskets and hid plastic eggs with candy.  That morning when Laci woke up, I told her "Happy Easter.  Do you remember what happened on Easter?"  Her response  "Jesus died."  "No, that was Friday. What happened on Easter Sunday."  Her response "Jesus wasn't where they had put him because he was up with God."  I loved that that is what Easter means to her right now more than the Easter bunny.  Then we went downstairs to see Easter Baskets and find eggs.  

 

All dressed up!  So spiffy. 
He's my sharp dressed man.

Sunday church was so crowded but we got there early.  Calvin walked right down to his Sunday school room, got a play vacuum out, went back to the hallway and walked down to the donut room.  He was not happy when he was told it wasn't donut time yet.  Laci refused to go to Sunday school.  But she refused to go to church also.  Charlie finally took her again half way through the service.  Her teacher is so good with her and understands.  After church we went home and had a big Easter dinner and my parents and brother went home.  It was a busy weekend and we spent the rest of Sunday just recooperating.  The kids were wiped out.  They got some new outside toys (jump rope, bubbles) but it was too windy to play outside.  My parents gave them a kids picnic table that Laci is thrilled about.  It warmed up and we had a really nice dinner on the deck.  A nice ending to a nice weekend. 

My New Training Schedule

My new training schedule seems to be working.  My brother, the runner, is big into training programs.  He reads running magazines about training programs, nutrition, rest, the proper trait, etc.  Charlie's training program is simple - run every day.  My training program is pretty much schedule induced.  I run when I can.  I have written before that I run primarily at lunch and occasionally once on the weekends.  Lunch time runs are perfect because the kids are at daycare.  But it does limit my run to about 4 miles.   That's not really a problem because I rarely want to run more than 4 miles.  Lately, my schedule has been such that I have been hitting it hard one week (3 - 4 runs a week) and then I'm busy the next week and only getting 1 or 0 runs in.  I ran today after a 9 day break.  I was a little concerned that I would be out of shape.  I was wrong.  I felt great and got 4.1 miles in.  I haven't been able to use my magic treadmill #5 in awhile.  But I have been increasing my speed regardless.  I am now averaging a speed of 7.0 for the first two miles and finishing the second two miles at 6.7.  My new training schedule of one week on, one week off must be working.  I feel great this afternoon.

My brother recently bought a new GPS watch.  He is using it to train for an upcoming marathon.  He has set up paces on the watch and it is really improving his time.  Right now on his training runs, he is working towards a 3 hr 10 min marathon.  I saw a similar watch on groupon and splurged and bought it.  I have only used it on a couple of walks because I haven't gotten an outdoor run done this spring yet.  But I am looking forward to seeing my distance on some outdoor runs this summer.  And maybe get a few 6 or 7 mile runs in this summer.   

I have also discovered that I have a cookie weakness.  I have no self control at the grocery store.  I love cookies in the afternoon after my run.  Today I didn't pack any!  My house is full of Easter candy and I didn't remember to pack any of it in my lunch box today.  Grrrr.  All I brought was a blueberry muffin for my afternoon snack.  It's just not the same. 

Some one-liners from Saturday

Laci had me chucklying yesterday with a few good one liners.  My favorites -

1.  Some how after lunch, the kids moved the kitchen chairs over to the other side of the room and were standing / jumping on them.  Laci declared herself the Officer.  I didn't even know she knew what an Officer was.  I said I was an officer too.  She said that I was not.  So I said I was the Petty Officer.  Her response - "Okay, you can keep track of the pennies.  That is what the Penny Officer does."

2.  "Daddy, Smile.  You need to smile more because you always look mad."  That made me a little sad.  The truth hurts.

3.  We went out to dinner at a new restaurant.  It's at a golf course that some friends of ours own.  It is a nice place and we were hapy that both kids behaved.  But we still apologized for the mess we made.  On the way home, Laci was playing with a Beanie Baby and said "Mom, I have a problem.  I have a meeting and I have to take her to her ballerina class.  If I don't go to my meeting, they are going to shoot my son!"  Charlie and I were laughing at this point.  But it sounds serious.  Where does she get these ideas!?!  I solved the problem by taking her daugher (Beanie Baby) to her ballerina class.  Whew - her son lives! 

On this drive home, somehow Calvin ended up with my phone and Laci had the play phone.  It was pretty funny watching him hold up the phone to his ear saying "-Ello, -Ello".  Then he held the phone up and started saying "Cheese" and pretended to take pictures.  :)

We are so blessed.

I have had a bad week.  The week started with some bad days and just turned into a bad week.  I felt like I struggled in all aspects - work, children, husband.  The only thing that kept me going is remembering that all bad weeks come to an end and next week will be a good week.  This I know.  Plus, it helps knowing that tonight I am going out with some friends.  I need that!  

I love following blogs.  One that my mom told me about is the family of one of her preschool students.  Their youngest daughter was diagnosed with SMA (Spinal Musclue Atrophy) last year.  I won't go into the details because I don't understand them.  This little girl is Calvin's age.  It is hard to see the toddler in her around her medical difficulties.  But she is a toddler.  A happy energetic toddler that wants everything he wants.  She just has more challenges and struggles.  Their most recent post was of her g-tube for feeding that she just got.  I have a woman in my small group at church with a 2 year old with a g-tube.  I never knew what all that meant until I started reading about it and talking to her.  I know more now.  These children are amazing for what they go through and the smiles they have.  Their smilies in the midst of their challenges make me smile.  I also read a blog occasionally of a friend of a friend with a toddler Calvin's age.  Yesterday, they posted about a minor defect their daughter has in her arm/hand.  They are in Boston now for surgery.  

Suddenly my bad week wasn't so bad.  We have two healthy children that are thriving.  We are so blessed. 

To be a fly on the wall...

I am starting to see some selfishness and maybe hypocrisy in my parenting.  I talk a good game - My main goal is raising children that become self sufficient adults, good members of society.  That sounds all well and good but harder to do.  I still know that I don't want to hold them back and I want them to grow and experience new things.  I want them to be independent.  But I realize that being independent means being away from me!  I am selfish in that regard.  I want to experience everything with my children.  I hate it when they get to do things and have experiences without me.  Last summer, Laci went on several field trips at school.  Some were small - the park, the movies but they also went to the county fair and the zoo!   She had a great time - without me.  At Thanksgiving, Laci went to the Children's Museum with my brother-in-law and cousins.  I was worried how she would do on an outing with them.  But mostly I was just jealous.  It killed me to be at work when I knew she was having fun and experiencing the museum without me.  My MIL has been asking to take Laci for a weekend or maybe just a day.  She asked again yesterday.  The pit in my stomach formed.  I first wondered why.  Why can't Laci go spend the day with her?  Then it hit me - it bothers me because I want to go too!  I want to be a part of all the special times and experiences she has.  But part of the specialness of spending the day with Grandma is not being with Mom.  I complain sometimes that Laci is too attached to me but maybe I am too attached to her.  Laci is excited to spend the day with Grandma next week.  She even checked with Calvin to make sure he was okay staying home.  He was. 

As she grows up, Laci is going to do lots of things without me - birthday parties, play dates, sleepovers, sporting events, weekends and then a week at Grandma's.  These are things she needs to experience without me.  I just wish I could see her do these things.  I wish I could just be a fly on the wall.

Technology

My kids are not technology saavy but getting closer.  I really haven't done too much on the computer with Laci.  There are so many toddler and preschool games out there.  But she can't work a mouse!  She is so used to the touch screen on my Nook and her LeapPad that she gets frustrated with the mouse.  I should pull it out and try again.  She likes to type the alphabet on the computer.  The first "video game" / electronic we got her was the LeapPad for Christmas.  She loves it.  She really does a good job of taking care of it and not losing the stylus (my fear).  I am amazed at how she can figure things out on it.  I have never done anything on it but put the games on and hand it to her.  She does the rest.  Before she got that, she would play with a calculator and call it her video game.  This is one of those things where being first born is a disadvantage.  We want to wait as long as possible before introducing video games to her.  No Nintendo DS's or Wii's for awhile.  But whenever we give in and get one, Calvin will be 3 years younger when he starts playing than Laci is.  Sometimes he sneaks off with her LeapPad and looks so proud of himself pressing the buttons and screen and doing nothing.  

When it comes to cell phones, Laci is a whiz.  She loves the apps and camera on my iPhone.  It's a work phone so I don't let her get any games for it.  The only apps I have are the free ones I can get from Starbucks.  She was so impressed when I told her I got Dora Skywriting from Starbucks.  Of course, she was devastated when she realized that is the only game that came with the app and I wouldn't let her get the ones that are advertised on the Dora app. Those sneaky app makers messing up my kids with advertising!  

She is just starting to want to call people on the cell phone.  I have two Favorites - my sister and Charlie.  I heard my phone dialing at 7:30 on a Saturday and was terrified that she called a work contact!  Fortunately, it was just my sister and I didn't mind waking her up early on a Saturday.  :)  I rarely text people but Laci loves "texting".  I have found her on her toy cell phone "texting" her cousins.  Last night, she was begging me to call one of her friends mom to set up a play date.  I don't have her number so I told her I would email her later.  Laci handed me the cordless phone and asked me to "text" her.  She reminded me that the last time I texted (emailed) her I used my phone.  Well, it was my cell phone, not my landline phone.  Close but so far. 

To the kids, anything is a phone.  In the car one day, she pulled out an old Sucrets box that my grandfather-in-law had kept small things in (remember we got the car from him) and used it as a cell phone.  I had a magazine in the car and that became my "computer" to receive the messages.  Somehow the Sucrets box made it in the house and I saw Calvin walking around yesterday holding it up like a phone saying "-Ello, -Ello".  Nothing says 90 year old toddler like a Sucrets Box!

Saturday Night's Not Alright...

Saturday night is not Laci's night.  We just can't get over the hump.  Laci is almost done night potty training... again.  Laci was 2 1/2 and completely potty trained, day and night right before Calvin was born.  But when I went back to work, the night time potty training disappeared.  She has had good weeks and bad weeks.  The last few weeks have been really good.  I thought we were almost there.  I told her that if she can go dry 7 days in a row, I would get her the Cinderella game for her LeapPad.  The makers of LeapPad are geniuses and put ads for games on the LeapPad.  This is the first thing she has really and repeated asked for.  So this is the first "reward" we are trying.  She has gotten so close to 7 days - until Day 7, Sunday morning.  This morning was the second Sunday morning (Day 7) in a row where she crawled in bed with me crying at 6 am because she wasn't dry.  So close.  I know she can do it and she is doing so well.  There's always next Day 7, hopefully next Sunday to be a success.