Wordless Wednesday - Funny Faces

(Tuesday nights at UNO's kids eat free and get FREE face painting by Jackie @ MetroWest Face Painting. She's awesome!)

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Tuesday's Tip (#12)

Here's a tip for you:

Expect the Unexpected.

I know I didn't come up with that theory, but it's applicable in almost every day that you spend with children.

Take yesterday, for example. My kids are slobs, but they are pretty good about bringing their dirty dishes to the sink when they are done eating. When Sean was done with his waffle, I told him to put his plate in the sink. Any other day, he would've gone over to the sink and placed it on top of a pile or set it gently on the counter. That's what I would've expected. By now you'd think I'd know better.

Yesterday, instead of placing his plate gently by the sink (like every other day), Sean decided to stand in the middle of the kitchen and fling that plate like the world's stickiest frisbee (maple syrup strikes again!). Of course the plate hit my porcelain sink and exploded into a million shards of syrupy danger. I didn't even have to give Sean a time-out. The exploding plate scared the crap out of him and he burst into tears. 

So, if you're spending time with kids, just brace yourself. At least once a day, they will do something that defies what we adults like to call logic - like plate launching.

Have a tip to share? Or some glue? Feel free to leave a comment below...

...& be sure to check back every Tuesday for a new tip!

Wordless Wednesday - Swinging

Patrick & Lucy

HEY... If you enjoy the blog, why not become a follower? I'm the one who's at the playground. You can also stalk find me on Facebook and Twitter. Like the page and follow me!

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**And be sure to visit my Zazzle store. You know you want some!

Tuesday's Tip (#11)

Here's a tip for you:


K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple, Stupid


My children are very fortunate. They have many nice toys with which to play. They can often be found playing with their iPod touches, a LeapPad, the computer, the iPad, the Wii, a Nintendo DS... you get the picture. There is a lot of technology going on in this house. Sometimes, though, I've found it's the simplest things that really keep their attention.


On Saturday, my mother-in-law gave the kids each a new box of 24 Crayola crayons. Personally, I can't think of anything better than a brand-new box of Crayolas. I had no idea it would entertain my children so immensely, though. All five of them colored for about 6 hours straight at the dining room table. It was an all day coloring event. Every few minutes, I'd hear the printer running and know that they'd Googled coloring page images again. They were so cute - and QUIET. And not asking to charge anything or replace batteries!


So, when they seem antsy, shut everything off and bust out the crayons. Go old school!

Have a tip to share? Or some coloring books? Feel free to leave a comment below...

...& be sure to check back every Tuesday for a new tip!

WARNING!

During a brief conversation with a Twitter friend the other day, we were discussing the things no one tells you about kids. It occurred to me that they should come with warning labels. It seems that almost every baby item we got before we had children was plastered with warnings about all of the potential dangers. But they just don't tell you what these kids will do to you. So, here are a few that I would recommend they stick to the side of the babies before you take them home:

True story. You will lose sleep. Even with good sleepers, it's inevitable. A day will come when you are so tired you don't even know your own name. Start your coffee habit now.

At some point, there will be a stomach bug. They don't write about that in the baby books. Good luck - it sucks.

Related to above.

Kids are like little Hoovers (the vacuum, not the director of the FBI).  Shop like Armageddon is coming. Or a snowstorm if you're in New England. Same difference.

If you don't have kids or you haven't reached the Lego stage, you might think I'm exaggerating. Trust me. It hurts like hell. Throw some around and walk to the bathroom in the middle of the night. You will scream. 

Kids will be kids. They argue and disagree. If, however, they're being super sweet to each other (usually accompanied by unnatural quiet), they are conspiring against you. Watch out.

These are just a few of the warnings I came up with. If you can think of some that I missed, tell me in the comments below!


Thanks to the Warning Label Generator for my fun this morning!

HEY... If you enjoy the blog, why not become a follower? I'm the one who's trying to find the make-up remover. You can also stalk find me on Facebook and Twitter. Like the page and follow me!

---->P.S. Don't forget to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs. Click that cute little brown button on my sidebar to vote for me...

**And be sure to visit my Zazzle store. You know you want some!

Tuesday's Tip (#10)

#10! Whoa - Tuesday's Tips are into double digits!


Here's a tip for you:


Choose your battles.


Really, this applies to most of life. But, when it comes to parenting, this is especially poignant. You need to know when it's important to lay down the law and when you should just let something roll. Kids do lots of crazy things. You'll drive yourself nuts trying to make them conform to your sense of normal.


Take last night, for example. Charlotte had one of her lovely screaming fits that she hadn't had in a few weeks. She started around midnight and was inconsolable for well over an hour. She finally progressed to making words and kept crying "shoulder." This meant she wanted to listen to "Put Your Head on My Shoulder" by Paul Anka. On repeat. (Thanks, Lala!)


While "shoulder" was working it's magic (& making me want to start screaming), Charlotte was coming back into reality and finally started talking instead of crying. She wanted crackers. And chocolate milk. Apparently, I'm running a damn diner at 1:30 in the morning. I might've said "no," but I so desperately wanted sleep. 


So, at 1:45 in the morning, I found myself in my bed with a very cute - now smiling - 19 month old who was busy licking the peanut butter out of her crackers. She kept telling me how delicious they were and stuffing the licked crackers into my mouth. I'm fairly certain I woke with a few of them stuck to me. I could've said no to all of that nonsense if I wanted to listen to a few more hours of screaming. But, I chose to battle quiet cracker crumbs instead of a screaming toddler. Draw the battle lines. Maybe crumbs in the bed are a hard limit for you. Choose your battles and let things roll when you can. If not, you'll be in an asylum before your kids even hit preschool.


Have a tip to share? Or a crumb catcher? Feel free to leave a comment below...


... & be sure to check back every Tuesday for a new tip!

Nothing Good Comes from a Claire's Make-up Kit

Lucy had a Claire's giftcard leftover from her birthday. So, while I was at a coronation birthday party with Sophie, PJ let Lucy go shopping. Naturally, she bought a make-up kit. Just what every 7 year old needs. Little did I know, she had set up a little make-up station in my living room this morning. These are the results. (I can only be thankful that Charlotte hadn't woken up yet!)

Lucy hard at work on her clients.

Patrick went for the ever-so-fashionable "black-eye/scarface" look.

Sean told me he's a vampire.

And Sophie...who knows??

Of course, Charlotte woke up while I was typing this. Lucy got to her before she had even rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

I'll call this one "Baby Streetwalker."

It's going to be an interesting summer, for sure.

HEY... If you enjoy the blog, why not become a follower? I'm the one who's trying to find the make-up remover. You can also stalk find me on Facebook and Twitter. Like the page and follow me!

---->P.S. Don't forget to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs. Click that cute little brown button on my sidebar to vote for me...

**And be sure to visit my Zazzle store. You know you want some!