It's hot. Summer has surely arrived. The kids are home full time and every so often I get from Kaitlyn, "I miss school. I miss my friends, can't we go tomorrow?" It's so wonderful to hear this for a number of reasons, but today, what makes my head throb is that it validates my driving 240 miles each week just for the two round trips for delivery and pick up that I do each day they attend. Yes, that's right, 240 miles X 4 weeks is 960 miles a month just for school. That amounts to approximately three tanks of gas which is close to $210 a month on this venture alone. Let's not forget I'm an active mom who enjoys visiting Nana in Long Beach, the folks in Moreno Valley and of course a couple of LA trips scattered throughout the months along with all the regular city driving and we are sinking into gallons of additional fuel. Respite. It's summer. I haven't filled my tank in over a week and I still have a quarter tank left-this makes my heart skip.
Steve is on a quest for the latest Tesla Motor's Model S all electric car and after the opportunity to test drive this baby a couple of weeks back, I salivate at the shift of coins! This car, while it's a huge up front expense, has a ridiculously minimal overhead cost that if all goes well, our solar powered units for the home (once installed) will off set that cost even more. Go Green. It's a new experience that we'll be having here at the Patterson home come March of 2013-well, Steve at least. In the meantime, I'm relishing in my low overhead, relatively speaking, as my city taxi miles is all I'm having to finance!
Two weeks ago I enrolled Kaitlyn in a Level I swim class and Dylan in a Mommy & Me class, both conducted in the same lane at the same time. This has grounded my summer days, giving us an activity that organizes our day, gets us out of the heat momentarily, and exhausts at least Dylan. When it's all said and done, the kids will have enjoyed a full month of classes as they are offered five days a week...they will be ready to 'swim' in the lake for our August camping trip but the real motivation is learning how to be safe in the water or they will not be allowed to swim in cousin Natalia's pool. This puts Kaitlyn out of any sassy spell and immediately into a mode of cooperation when getting ourselves ready for class. Kaitlyn seems to thoroughly enjoy the lessons, often reporting to me a fondness for her skills that develop each passing day. Most recently this included "holding hands with Roger (a classmate) underwater while going under water for a toy". She's such a girl....
From day one, Dylan verbally disapproved of going under the water and for whatever reason, today he wanted to do it twice and didn't cry but rather smiled heavily asking for more. The shift happened. I'm confident in his abilities, any sport with this guy and off he'll go, sailing. We walk past the football field to reach the pool and thus daily he reminds me of his future football playing adventures, saying hello to each giant jock as they strut along with all their gear. It's a college campus after all, so training is in full force and Dylan is absorbing it all!
Some incredibly delicious highlights of these two rapidly growing children:
Kaitlyn loves to count to 100! Often we swap numbers, I say 1 and she says 2, and on we go all the way up to 100. Fun mind game! She also easily absorbs herself in paper dolls-maybe I could label her as a chronic user? Seriously, this past week alone I think I've spent over four hours just cutting and gluing every 3-D Disney printable paper craft project available on-line. When she asked to help with the cutting-as everything needs cutting out-I said yes and to my surprise, this little girl wouldn't move for two hours straight, hardly talk...completely focused on her task; completely proud of herself once she had finished piles of cut outs for me to glue. Her cutting skills are exceptional I might add.
Dylan is in the throws of potty training. I give credit to Montessori for really doing the tedious work of getting him trained since now that we are home full time I see how easily it could be to just give up and slap on a diaper or pull up to reserve my energy for something else. Currently he's found a fascination with peeing outside and on two occasions, pooping. Oh boy! Not my favorite situation to walk into-but I do know it's so typical. He's fairly great with his aim at the potty, but I've observed that as he gets more swift with the routine, the sloppy side of potty training occurs. Anyone know how to get that pee smell out of bathroom grout? Moms of boys, you know what I'm talking about here!
As our days unfold, the sibling rivalry remains high, the bedtime routines are lengthy, imaginations are wild and Super Heros with Princesses are top notch topics. I'm finding myself laughing more with these two, lavishly loving on them, hugging and praising each throughout the day and especially when I tuck them into bed. This has become my favorite part of the day-I lean onto each one separately asking them what they are thankful for. The first few times Dylan would shrug his shoulders and smile. I'd begin my list of specific encounters of our day that made me proud or made me appreciate his style and then he'd bust out with an appreciation. It's incredible what little minds can conjure up! Kaitlyn's thank you's are always conducted while scratching her back-it's her thing. She inherited this from Steve...the itch factor. She loves a good hard scratch, dictating which part of her back to scratch next. It's hilarious really. By the time we are finished with our thank you's, Dear Loving and Gracious God prayers and scratches, she is off to slumber and I'm often off to slumber alongside her. I'm exhausted. Pooped out. It's summer. after all!
Friday, July 13, 2012
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Communication by my 4 year old...
Tonight was going to be adventurous, thus I made it very clear what the children and I were set out to accomplish. Both Dylan and Kaitlyn knew they would be in the double stroller once we arrived in Old Town Pasadena and that Mommy had to pick up some paper from a paper shop. They would not be getting out of the stroller, and if they both cooperated while I got my goods, we would go for ice cream. Exceptional. Truly, both of these little ones were so outstanding. Overjoyed I found myself stopping time to express to them specifically how much I appreciated their cooperation at the store, itemizing out what they did: they were patient, quiet and very courteous.
Well, upon arriving at home I had high hopes both would be passed out from the travel time, however I was unfortunately left with two overly tired but awake children. Dylan couldn't get himself to focus on sleep while his sister was attempting every tactic in the book to delay her restful sleep (jumping on bed, asking for other sleeping arrangements, repetitively saying certain words, stalling with getting dressed, etc...you get the picture). Eventually I grew to a snappy verbal tone and as militant as I could be, I attempted laying down the law. My four year old, again, overly tired, began her rant. This is the second one this week and I must say they are comical now that I know how to handle them! She followed me downstairs to let Cosimo outside and wouldn't follow me back upstairs for a number of reasons she blurted out. I left her there on the last step and walked upstairs to get Dylan back into his bed (probably for the 4th time due to all his sister's disruptions)! She ranted for another ten minutes yelling, with confidence, such statements like:
I don't like this house anymore.
I don't like my Mommy, she's being a bully.
You can have all my Princess dolls and throw them into the trash.
I don't like Princesses anymore.
I don't like my books, I don't like my shoes.
I don't want to sleep. Mommy is mean.
I want to play. I'm not tired.
I don't like my curly hair, I want my hair to be straight.
...
...
I don't like my Mommy....
Mind you, she is hollering these statements out so loud it's hard to not want to stop them. But, silence is golden as she eventually stopped. I went up to her thanked her for quieting down and asked her if she was done with all that she wanted to say. She agreed she was finished but then launched into this finger listing (literally holding up her fingers one at a time) for why she was frustrated and had hurt feelings:
Mommy was Rude. Selfish. Yelling. Mommy was a bully. Didn't get the right bed for me. Mommy was going to leave me alone. Mommy was laughing when it wasn't funny.
She had nine fingers up by the time she finished all her thoughts. I swept her up and placed her back into her bed. Then proceeded to tell her that it was time to apologize-she very cooperatively apologized, as did I (secretly chuckling at the dynamic communication style of this little one) and we ended our night together with a loving embrace.
These shots below are from earlier today-they really capture her personality. Love her outfit? Yes, she picked it out herself and said, 'they match, the dots (on the shirt) are the same color as my pants'. She does this all the time, patterns could be horrifically colliding but she'll have at least one color in her shirt compliment or be the same color as one found on her pants. You can't change her mind on it, either. Once she sorts out her choice, that's it.
She's exhaustingly brilliant.
Well, upon arriving at home I had high hopes both would be passed out from the travel time, however I was unfortunately left with two overly tired but awake children. Dylan couldn't get himself to focus on sleep while his sister was attempting every tactic in the book to delay her restful sleep (jumping on bed, asking for other sleeping arrangements, repetitively saying certain words, stalling with getting dressed, etc...you get the picture). Eventually I grew to a snappy verbal tone and as militant as I could be, I attempted laying down the law. My four year old, again, overly tired, began her rant. This is the second one this week and I must say they are comical now that I know how to handle them! She followed me downstairs to let Cosimo outside and wouldn't follow me back upstairs for a number of reasons she blurted out. I left her there on the last step and walked upstairs to get Dylan back into his bed (probably for the 4th time due to all his sister's disruptions)! She ranted for another ten minutes yelling, with confidence, such statements like:
I don't like this house anymore.
I don't like my Mommy, she's being a bully.
You can have all my Princess dolls and throw them into the trash.
I don't like Princesses anymore.
I don't like my books, I don't like my shoes.
I don't want to sleep. Mommy is mean.
I want to play. I'm not tired.
I don't like my curly hair, I want my hair to be straight.
...
...
I don't like my Mommy....
Mind you, she is hollering these statements out so loud it's hard to not want to stop them. But, silence is golden as she eventually stopped. I went up to her thanked her for quieting down and asked her if she was done with all that she wanted to say. She agreed she was finished but then launched into this finger listing (literally holding up her fingers one at a time) for why she was frustrated and had hurt feelings:
Mommy was Rude. Selfish. Yelling. Mommy was a bully. Didn't get the right bed for me. Mommy was going to leave me alone. Mommy was laughing when it wasn't funny.
She had nine fingers up by the time she finished all her thoughts. I swept her up and placed her back into her bed. Then proceeded to tell her that it was time to apologize-she very cooperatively apologized, as did I (secretly chuckling at the dynamic communication style of this little one) and we ended our night together with a loving embrace.
These shots below are from earlier today-they really capture her personality. Love her outfit? Yes, she picked it out herself and said, 'they match, the dots (on the shirt) are the same color as my pants'. She does this all the time, patterns could be horrifically colliding but she'll have at least one color in her shirt compliment or be the same color as one found on her pants. You can't change her mind on it, either. Once she sorts out her choice, that's it.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Glam & Ham.
I couldn't resist. Tomorrow at school the kids have an opportunity to do old fashioned dress-up photos. I see the price of $70 to get the two of them photographed and figured I'd do my own rendition. I'm no pro and quite frankly, there really isn't anything old fashioned about this. Kaitlyn was beside herself with glee. Getting to wear mommy's lipstick and raid the jewelry box. The latter was rather insightful. I have a true fashionista in the makings. She had opinions. Did I mention she had opinions?
Dylan's curiosity grew the longer he observed Kaitlyn getting dolled up. We grabbed a tie from Steve's rack and a crisp shirt, rolled up the sleeves to make a fit that was nothing shy of 100% adorable. He was ecstatic-and adding the watch to his wrist (it didn't last on his arm long enough for the photos) completed his happiness! I wish I video taped the preparation!
Kaitlyn is no stranger to the camera. She was on stage the minute the sequence top hit her body. She was all poses and glam. My two little hams. I hope they find theater in their future. If I could decide it for them, they'd be cast as leading roles! I won't lie. I did consider the looking into getting professional head shots today. With these two, I am certain any company would want them in front of their camera! Here's to having fun after dinner this evening....being spontaneous and downright silly! Love, Love, Love this kind of play!
Birthday Celebration tidbits...
The Mermaid Cake.
Steve's shark....
Sharks & Mermaids welcome.
The Birthday girl in her birthday dress!
In Princess attire for cake eating.
Cousins, just hanging out! Baby Lucas isn't so babyish anymore!
Friday, June 1, 2012
Momma's Boy
It's evident that Dylan is a Momma's Boy. I think any onlooker could pin this title-it's clearly obvious. Just a few notes to capture this momentous label he possesses...for how long, I do not know:
1. When I leave for any given period of time (head upstairs for a quick jaunt to my closet or actually drive away in the car for some afternoon errands) and return, he comes to me with this sad face and says, "Mommy, I can't see you..." "Mommy, I cried."
2. Bedtime routine right now is bit tricky, he truly wants to cling to my neck when I lay down next to him, often nuzzling his head into my shoulder-of course that's after a bundle of goodnight kisses. He's super duper lovable and just wants the comfort of knowing I'm there.
3. He likes to grab my hand and lead the way to where ever it is that he wants to take me or show me while saying, "Mommy, come. Come." It's very matter of fact.
Talk about warm fuzzies. I get them a lot with this little guy.
1. When I leave for any given period of time (head upstairs for a quick jaunt to my closet or actually drive away in the car for some afternoon errands) and return, he comes to me with this sad face and says, "Mommy, I can't see you..." "Mommy, I cried."
2. Bedtime routine right now is bit tricky, he truly wants to cling to my neck when I lay down next to him, often nuzzling his head into my shoulder-of course that's after a bundle of goodnight kisses. He's super duper lovable and just wants the comfort of knowing I'm there.
3. He likes to grab my hand and lead the way to where ever it is that he wants to take me or show me while saying, "Mommy, come. Come." It's very matter of fact.
Talk about warm fuzzies. I get them a lot with this little guy.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Turning Four, not Fourteen
Somedays I question the actual age of Kaitlyn as she baits my patience verbalizing adult-like concepts, dishing them out as if fourteen leaving me in a quandary...where did she learn how to say that? Does she really know what that means? Let me give you an example:
'Mommy, I'm having a dark day.' She offered this statement with such frankness despite the sun beating down overhead in the painted blue sky. It was her last of many loaded grumpy statements of unrest from not getting a toy she wanted during a late afternoon grocery run.
'You ruined my heart. It's broken.' This one personally just rips my heart in half, and then I wake up and realize it's just untrue! She is quite poetic, and did I mention, dramatic?
There is no questioning, I am continually challenged by my daughter's stubborn, sassy and very verbal candor. Now that she is four (May 28th was her big day) I feel like overnight an explosion of energy bursted from within her. Leading up to this big day a trend had been forming-up late at night and early to rise. We've never been a household with strict bedtime hours but reasonably maintained somewhat of a bedtime routine beginning around 7:30pm with Dylan and ending with Kaitlyn close to 8:30pm. Now her nightly routine has stretched close to the 9:30pm hour with last night being an unspeakable 10:30pm. Wide awake. Or, if analyzed, completely exhausted but eyes wide opened...as if her mind wasn't prepared for a slumber.
Ho hum. I'll never know her inner workings and am most certain this is only the beginning. She is very quick with her tongue, doesn't forget anything and often links situations, experiences and previously stated comments to current arguments, opinions and her favorite, proclamations of ideas for me to enact. Ho hum....
Dylan has this disgruntled face coupled with an arm crossed sternness when he doesn't get his way, when he is upset with his sister, when he feels unheard...or when he just seems to want some attention. It's fairly funny since you can get him to unravel the tension by expressing the need to have him cooperate, be friendly...whatever the command is for the moment. Snap your fingers and his frown turns into this forced smile that shows all his teeth, dimples and even a sparkle in the eye. It's hilarious. It's a show. That's what this little boy is becoming, a show. I find that he is a true pest, chasing after his sister, pulling her hair, poking her shoulder, tackling her...all for her reactions.
He's developed this interesting role playing game with Kaitlyn and while it's odd, it's also initially endearing. In the middle of anything....getting ready for bed, playing by the TV, watching a show, running wild through the house....he goes up to his sister and says, 'Mommy' with his arms outstretched. She then stops what she's doing, goes to hug him and the two end up toppled over with their bodies in a pretzel. Moments later giggling begins and the wrestling takes over. Who ends up on top squishing the other is a continual battle.
I've noticed Dylan take on a great deal of his sister's words and tone, offering them with his disgruntled face...but, it's just not as fitting for him as it is for her so he falters earlier than her, allowing me a bit of a reprieve since she can often be all too consuming!
Highlights of their happenings:
1. The two of them had an incredibly successful dental cleaning-Kaitlyn now knows I must brush her teeth until she is seven years old and sugar bugs have already begun a nest in one of her back molars (a brown spot had formed-uggghhh). Dylan has no enamel-a problem that occurred when in utero, so his teeth are ones to watch with great diligence. Thankfully, the two of them love brushing their teeth and are very compliant with the parental assistance!
2. Dylan is getting his own room-thankfully! It's time for this for too many reasons, but spurring it to occur sooner than later is simply due to a situation that occurred this past Mother's Day. When overly amped up at bedtime, Kaitlyn attempted and successfully woke up Dylan by some serious use of force! She managed to 'bonk' him on the head a number of times with various objects in her room-a hard back book, play kitchen pots and the best, shoved the cone portion of a play ice cream cone up his nose and in his ear. Call it a truthful recount of what actually happened, or an overly exaggerated rendition of what really happened, it doesn't matter. Dylan woke up in a panic and she was laughing. I was livid. Steve thankfully was home to help figure out the best plan of discipline as I was ready to lock her up-or myself. I wasn't sure who should have the time out. Really, I was fuming!
3. Somehow we are in this pretend world of Spiderman, Firestar, Iceman, and the Princess of the moment. These little ones label themselves with a character and then charade around with their new identity. Often this leads to dress ups, jumping onto the sofa, hanging off the counter or upside down off a chair...it can be obnoxious but surely entertaining as well!
4. I've resigned myself to knowing that positive reinforcement is the only way to go with child rearing. If I can be over the top with verbal specific praise, especially with Kaitlyn, and then follow-through with stern diligence for any threat or promise I make, I have authority with her. This sounds like an easy formula to follow but so often it gets clouded with a mis-management of time, or a distraction called Dylan, or my own motherhood fog. Our super Nanny Auntie Jessie came to visit over this birthday weekend and it was like bootcamp around here. On the sidelines I was being fed all sorts of tips, critiques, situational awareness, and in the throws of the parenting, she was stepping in, reinforcing my demands, taking on her own discipline tactics, etc. Parenting Bootcamp. Seriously. Despite our clashing styles, she has taught me so much and offered me great opportunities to see the tips actualized!
Once again I say, Ho Hum!
This month of May has been an uplifting month. It started fast and for a while was packed with trips, car rides, jeopardized routines...but ended on a high note that has me excited for summer. I will have the kids full time come July and August. My plan is to enroll them in a couple of area 1/2 day camp programs, take them to various museums, have beach days, craft projects and lots of backyard splash time! Overall, it's a summer to Just Be a Kid! I'm eager for the challenge!
'Mommy, I'm having a dark day.' She offered this statement with such frankness despite the sun beating down overhead in the painted blue sky. It was her last of many loaded grumpy statements of unrest from not getting a toy she wanted during a late afternoon grocery run.
'You ruined my heart. It's broken.' This one personally just rips my heart in half, and then I wake up and realize it's just untrue! She is quite poetic, and did I mention, dramatic?
There is no questioning, I am continually challenged by my daughter's stubborn, sassy and very verbal candor. Now that she is four (May 28th was her big day) I feel like overnight an explosion of energy bursted from within her. Leading up to this big day a trend had been forming-up late at night and early to rise. We've never been a household with strict bedtime hours but reasonably maintained somewhat of a bedtime routine beginning around 7:30pm with Dylan and ending with Kaitlyn close to 8:30pm. Now her nightly routine has stretched close to the 9:30pm hour with last night being an unspeakable 10:30pm. Wide awake. Or, if analyzed, completely exhausted but eyes wide opened...as if her mind wasn't prepared for a slumber.
Ho hum. I'll never know her inner workings and am most certain this is only the beginning. She is very quick with her tongue, doesn't forget anything and often links situations, experiences and previously stated comments to current arguments, opinions and her favorite, proclamations of ideas for me to enact. Ho hum....
Dylan has this disgruntled face coupled with an arm crossed sternness when he doesn't get his way, when he is upset with his sister, when he feels unheard...or when he just seems to want some attention. It's fairly funny since you can get him to unravel the tension by expressing the need to have him cooperate, be friendly...whatever the command is for the moment. Snap your fingers and his frown turns into this forced smile that shows all his teeth, dimples and even a sparkle in the eye. It's hilarious. It's a show. That's what this little boy is becoming, a show. I find that he is a true pest, chasing after his sister, pulling her hair, poking her shoulder, tackling her...all for her reactions.
He's developed this interesting role playing game with Kaitlyn and while it's odd, it's also initially endearing. In the middle of anything....getting ready for bed, playing by the TV, watching a show, running wild through the house....he goes up to his sister and says, 'Mommy' with his arms outstretched. She then stops what she's doing, goes to hug him and the two end up toppled over with their bodies in a pretzel. Moments later giggling begins and the wrestling takes over. Who ends up on top squishing the other is a continual battle.
I've noticed Dylan take on a great deal of his sister's words and tone, offering them with his disgruntled face...but, it's just not as fitting for him as it is for her so he falters earlier than her, allowing me a bit of a reprieve since she can often be all too consuming!
Highlights of their happenings:
1. The two of them had an incredibly successful dental cleaning-Kaitlyn now knows I must brush her teeth until she is seven years old and sugar bugs have already begun a nest in one of her back molars (a brown spot had formed-uggghhh). Dylan has no enamel-a problem that occurred when in utero, so his teeth are ones to watch with great diligence. Thankfully, the two of them love brushing their teeth and are very compliant with the parental assistance!
2. Dylan is getting his own room-thankfully! It's time for this for too many reasons, but spurring it to occur sooner than later is simply due to a situation that occurred this past Mother's Day. When overly amped up at bedtime, Kaitlyn attempted and successfully woke up Dylan by some serious use of force! She managed to 'bonk' him on the head a number of times with various objects in her room-a hard back book, play kitchen pots and the best, shoved the cone portion of a play ice cream cone up his nose and in his ear. Call it a truthful recount of what actually happened, or an overly exaggerated rendition of what really happened, it doesn't matter. Dylan woke up in a panic and she was laughing. I was livid. Steve thankfully was home to help figure out the best plan of discipline as I was ready to lock her up-or myself. I wasn't sure who should have the time out. Really, I was fuming!
3. Somehow we are in this pretend world of Spiderman, Firestar, Iceman, and the Princess of the moment. These little ones label themselves with a character and then charade around with their new identity. Often this leads to dress ups, jumping onto the sofa, hanging off the counter or upside down off a chair...it can be obnoxious but surely entertaining as well!
4. I've resigned myself to knowing that positive reinforcement is the only way to go with child rearing. If I can be over the top with verbal specific praise, especially with Kaitlyn, and then follow-through with stern diligence for any threat or promise I make, I have authority with her. This sounds like an easy formula to follow but so often it gets clouded with a mis-management of time, or a distraction called Dylan, or my own motherhood fog. Our super Nanny Auntie Jessie came to visit over this birthday weekend and it was like bootcamp around here. On the sidelines I was being fed all sorts of tips, critiques, situational awareness, and in the throws of the parenting, she was stepping in, reinforcing my demands, taking on her own discipline tactics, etc. Parenting Bootcamp. Seriously. Despite our clashing styles, she has taught me so much and offered me great opportunities to see the tips actualized!
Once again I say, Ho Hum!
This month of May has been an uplifting month. It started fast and for a while was packed with trips, car rides, jeopardized routines...but ended on a high note that has me excited for summer. I will have the kids full time come July and August. My plan is to enroll them in a couple of area 1/2 day camp programs, take them to various museums, have beach days, craft projects and lots of backyard splash time! Overall, it's a summer to Just Be a Kid! I'm eager for the challenge!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Today is worth it.
The moon was one night shy of being the biggest and brightest full moon of the year so you can imagine the dynamic of dusk. Setting sun to the west. Moon on steroids just overhead to the Southeast. Breathtaking-and consider Kaitlyns complete awe of the ocean and Dylan's sniper maneuvering for bird chases, we all experienced a collision of the senses!
'Auntie Soup' was a terrific hostess, providing Mac & Cheese, juice boxes and even a dose of chocolate; the kiddos ate well but more importantly had the best time identifying their favorite shell from her basket of finds, wearing mardi gras necklace collections, and of course, navigating the ocean sand to step out and become overly stimulated by the plethora of shells to collect.
Needless to say, I had to scoop Kaitlyn off the sand while negotiating out birthday cake dimensions; and Dylan just wanted to be carried from sheer exhaustion. Thanks kiddos for such a terrific DAY-totally worth the miles, traffic, generated smog and moments of tantrum hysteria!
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