I took Bay to the indoor play place the other day in order to have her work off some extra energy. She had a blast, but it got me thinking about the etiquette of such places.
For example, tons of the parents (including yours truly) followed their spawn around the place, making sure they didn't kill either themselves or some other random child. However, there were quite a few parents either hanging out around the perimeter of the play area or in the little "cafe" area outside the play place. Were their kids older? With other adults? Did they not care? Enquiring minds want to know!
Also, what's the proper way to handle an older child who is obviously being a douche to a younger child? (Or more importantly, what's the proper way to handle an older child being a douche to
Bay?)
Bay was spinning this...thing around. It looked like a toilet paper roll full of sparkly tic-tacs and she was trying to see how fast she could get it going and then stop it in its tracks. Big fun for a 2 year old, you know? So, this little girl who was maybe 6 or 7 crawls through the play tree to where Bay was, and stuck her grimy, little hand out and stopped the rolling thing in its tracks and wouldn't let Bay continue to play with it. I held off saying or doing anything for a minute, because I thought, "Really, this older kid is going to fuck with my toddler? Surely not!" After Bay started to freak, I realized that the brat was going to fuck with her. So I glared at the kid and said, "Come on Bay, let's go play somewhere else...where the kids are nice." The girl got the hint, removed her hand, and avoided us the rest of the time we were there. I was so ready for the girl's mom to come and try and go mama-bear on me, but I was ready.
Dress code. Is there one? I was wearing comfy jeans, fun socks, and a hoody and I was MASSIVELY underdressed. Along those lines...some women should.not. wear skinny jeans. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. Just sayin'.
Maybe it's just me, but if I was a parent hanging out in the cafe outside the play place and saw a wee one wandering sans parent, I'd...I don't know, notify someone. Better yet, if I opened the door out of the play place, I'd make damn sure it was closed behind me so a wee one couldn't get out. I think I closed the door about eleventy times after some idiot parent walked out to check their stocks or get a latte and didn't shut the door behind them. Also, I had a frelling heart attack when I lost Bay for a minute...she wandered out of the play area looking for her juice box. Now, the door knob to get out is on the outside of the door, so I know she didn't open it herself which means someone left the door open. Idiots.
So, anyone want to fill me in on proper play place behavior?
Friday, December 31, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Creating a New Tradition
Christmases in my family, especially since having kids, resemble scenes from Caligula...or at least what I assume scenes from that movie to be--since I've never seen it, but heard enough about it and I have an active enough imagination to get a pretty clear picture of what those scenes were about. (And don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about...it's Caligula for crying out loud!)
Anyway, our holiday was a veritable orgy of food, drink, presents, kids yelling and running around, us driving all over town (usually speeding because we were late) and just the feeling of STRESS. With me having a blended family (so there's Boo's dad and his family that we had to work with), my brother being married with kids, Babe being close to his family (so Christmas is a "big deal") me being close to my family (again, "big deal" holiday) it was just in.sane. and Babe and I spent most of the time running around like chickens with our heads cut off and it was frelling miserable.
Then, this year happened. My sister and sister-in-law are both nurses...working Christmas Eve-Day and Christmas Eve-Night, respectively. SIL and my mom got the idea to get together and celebrate on the 23rd, or Christmas Eve-Eve...sheer brillance! We still overindulged on wine, food, presents, and general family-style mayhem but then, Babe and I got to come home, put the kids to bed and just...chill.
No frantic wrapping of presents, no last minute trips to the store, no waking up at the ass-crack of dawn to open presents and then rush over the my in-laws so they can spend time with Boo before he goes to dad's...glorious I tell you.
The best part, and what I think is the BEST present I could have gotten is the chance to have some time with my family. A time to start creating some traditions of our own...so far, on the agenda, we have: making Amanda Rocks for Santa, writing him a letter, pulling all the blankets off the beds and piling them in the living room to watch movies, popping popcorn and then reading "T'was the Night Before Christmas". Oh, our Christmas Eve dinner? Cheesesteaks from Yo Philly! I can't wait...
Merry Christmas everyone!
Anyway, our holiday was a veritable orgy of food, drink, presents, kids yelling and running around, us driving all over town (usually speeding because we were late) and just the feeling of STRESS. With me having a blended family (so there's Boo's dad and his family that we had to work with), my brother being married with kids, Babe being close to his family (so Christmas is a "big deal") me being close to my family (again, "big deal" holiday) it was just in.sane. and Babe and I spent most of the time running around like chickens with our heads cut off and it was frelling miserable.
Then, this year happened. My sister and sister-in-law are both nurses...working Christmas Eve-Day and Christmas Eve-Night, respectively. SIL and my mom got the idea to get together and celebrate on the 23rd, or Christmas Eve-Eve...sheer brillance! We still overindulged on wine, food, presents, and general family-style mayhem but then, Babe and I got to come home, put the kids to bed and just...chill.
No frantic wrapping of presents, no last minute trips to the store, no waking up at the ass-crack of dawn to open presents and then rush over the my in-laws so they can spend time with Boo before he goes to dad's...glorious I tell you.
The best part, and what I think is the BEST present I could have gotten is the chance to have some time with my family. A time to start creating some traditions of our own...so far, on the agenda, we have: making Amanda Rocks for Santa, writing him a letter, pulling all the blankets off the beds and piling them in the living room to watch movies, popping popcorn and then reading "T'was the Night Before Christmas". Oh, our Christmas Eve dinner? Cheesesteaks from Yo Philly! I can't wait...
Merry Christmas everyone!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
10 Things: My Kids Randomly Do
It's the weekend! Time for another list...
1. Run around naked--both of them. Bay has taken to saying, "No aipa (diaper.) Me nakey!!"
2. Wake up at the weirdest times. Last Sunday, around 3:30, Babe got up to pee and all of a sudden, I had a kid in my face. It was Boo. He wanted to sleep with us, but there's not enough room (and he kicks), so I got him out on the couch. He's been doing this a couple times a week for the past couple months--waking up between 2 and 3, coming upstairs, snuggling, then sleeping on the couch. Doesn't bother me (except for the waking ME up at 2) but it's strange.
3. Eat ketchup. They'll have some with their chicken nuggets or fish sticks (but not with fries) and then ask for more. <---That is fine, but then they'll just eat the extra ketchup with their spoon, or in Bay's case, her fingers.
4. Go commando. Boo hardly ever wears underwear, even with jeans, which I think sounds as comfy as sand in your crack, but whatever.
5. Sing things to the tune of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". This morning, it was "Poopie, poopie, poopie poo..." Bay started it.
6. Obsessively feed Pya treats. They love it. Boo will make Pya shake or sit down, while Bay sets it on the floor by Pya's paws.
7. Head butt. I blame Babe. He and Boo made a "man handshake" that involves the following: a high five, knuckles (blow it up) and a head butt. Now Bay walks around saying "Ead butt!"
8. Dance. I'm assuming they get it from me--Mama LOVES to shake her ass. (Babe, however, does not. But Boo's dad is a dancer, so Boo gets a double dose of the dancing gene.) Every time there's music there's little booties shaking. So.frelling.cute.
9. Take baths. Bay will just start taking off her clothes yelling, "Baf! Baf!" Boo does the same thing, but not as often and if he's taking one, chances are, she's not too far behind.
10. Get the mail. I don't know if it's because they get to cross the street, or sometimes they get mail or they get to see the mini "Noah's Ark" we screwed into the fence by the mailbox (long story--for a different post) but they LOVE to get the mail. I haven't been able to get the mail by myself in years, which is fine, because Boo is almost to the age where he can get it himself and I hate getting the mail. (I don't know why...don't ask.)
My awesome and strange weethens!
1. Run around naked--both of them. Bay has taken to saying, "No aipa (diaper.) Me nakey!!"
2. Wake up at the weirdest times. Last Sunday, around 3:30, Babe got up to pee and all of a sudden, I had a kid in my face. It was Boo. He wanted to sleep with us, but there's not enough room (and he kicks), so I got him out on the couch. He's been doing this a couple times a week for the past couple months--waking up between 2 and 3, coming upstairs, snuggling, then sleeping on the couch. Doesn't bother me (except for the waking ME up at 2) but it's strange.
3. Eat ketchup. They'll have some with their chicken nuggets or fish sticks (but not with fries) and then ask for more. <---That is fine, but then they'll just eat the extra ketchup with their spoon, or in Bay's case, her fingers.
4. Go commando. Boo hardly ever wears underwear, even with jeans, which I think sounds as comfy as sand in your crack, but whatever.
5. Sing things to the tune of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". This morning, it was "Poopie, poopie, poopie poo..." Bay started it.
6. Obsessively feed Pya treats. They love it. Boo will make Pya shake or sit down, while Bay sets it on the floor by Pya's paws.
7. Head butt. I blame Babe. He and Boo made a "man handshake" that involves the following: a high five, knuckles (blow it up) and a head butt. Now Bay walks around saying "Ead butt!"
8. Dance. I'm assuming they get it from me--Mama LOVES to shake her ass. (Babe, however, does not. But Boo's dad is a dancer, so Boo gets a double dose of the dancing gene.) Every time there's music there's little booties shaking. So.frelling.cute.
9. Take baths. Bay will just start taking off her clothes yelling, "Baf! Baf!" Boo does the same thing, but not as often and if he's taking one, chances are, she's not too far behind.
10. Get the mail. I don't know if it's because they get to cross the street, or sometimes they get mail or they get to see the mini "Noah's Ark" we screwed into the fence by the mailbox (long story--for a different post) but they LOVE to get the mail. I haven't been able to get the mail by myself in years, which is fine, because Boo is almost to the age where he can get it himself and I hate getting the mail. (I don't know why...don't ask.)
My awesome and strange weethens!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
10 Things: That Bug the Crap Out of Me
Ah, the ubiquitous "Top Ten List'...These are in no particular order. Yes, I'm crabby.
1. Stopping at McDonald's *just* for a fountain Diet Coke, driving away, and finding that they forgot the straw. (I now hoard straws in my glove box, just for that occasion. Thanks to Sarah Z. for the suggestion!)
2. People that give me the stink-eye when one of my kids is being a douche in a public place. Chances are, if I'm ignoring it, it's because I've tried everything else--other than beating the child. I'm going to let it go, so should you.
3. Parents of students that always think the teachers/administrators/school system is "out to get" their kid and question everything. Dear Parents, sometimes, you have a jackass of a kid. That's not to say that there are teachers that suck, because there are, but most of the time, the student is being a turd, and the teachers are doing what they need to do to ensure that the rest of the students (you know, the ones *not* being a dumbass) are receiving an education.
4. Migraines.
5. Holiday (or really, and kind of) shopping. I agonize over what to get the people that I care about and it stresses me out. Add that to the eleventy-bajillion, stressed out people, lack of parking, and spending money, it's a frelling nightmare.
6. Wind. I mean, what the hell is it good for? Oh, I know, there's all sorts of sciency reasons we need wind, but really, all it does is mess up my hair, make the temperature colder, and blows shit into my yard.
7. Speaking of shit...People who let their dog shit in my yard and then leave it. If *you* don't want to pick it up, what makes you think *I* do?
8. "Reality" TV, or really, the idiots that get paid a ton of money because they're "reality" stars. (Jersey Shore cast, I'm looking at you!) Did you know that Snooki gets something like $200,000 to just SHOW UP at a red carpet event. Um, it would take me 4 years to make that much money. The Situation is supposed to earn 5 million bucks this year...for what? Showing off his abs? Ugh. Of course, I watch the damn show...
9. Drivers who don't follow the "this line, that line" rule. As if cutting me off and not letting me go in front of you will get you to your destination *that* much faster. Um, did you happen to see the 500 cars in front of you? Didn't think so.
10. Cats. Really, it's not their fault, I'm just deathly allergic and can't be in a house with one for more than an hour or two before my respiratory system is compromised.
So, there you have it. Things that bother me, today, at least.
1. Stopping at McDonald's *just* for a fountain Diet Coke, driving away, and finding that they forgot the straw. (I now hoard straws in my glove box, just for that occasion. Thanks to Sarah Z. for the suggestion!)
2. People that give me the stink-eye when one of my kids is being a douche in a public place. Chances are, if I'm ignoring it, it's because I've tried everything else--other than beating the child. I'm going to let it go, so should you.
3. Parents of students that always think the teachers/administrators/school system is "out to get" their kid and question everything. Dear Parents, sometimes, you have a jackass of a kid. That's not to say that there are teachers that suck, because there are, but most of the time, the student is being a turd, and the teachers are doing what they need to do to ensure that the rest of the students (you know, the ones *not* being a dumbass) are receiving an education.
4. Migraines.
5. Holiday (or really, and kind of) shopping. I agonize over what to get the people that I care about and it stresses me out. Add that to the eleventy-bajillion, stressed out people, lack of parking, and spending money, it's a frelling nightmare.
6. Wind. I mean, what the hell is it good for? Oh, I know, there's all sorts of sciency reasons we need wind, but really, all it does is mess up my hair, make the temperature colder, and blows shit into my yard.
7. Speaking of shit...People who let their dog shit in my yard and then leave it. If *you* don't want to pick it up, what makes you think *I* do?
8. "Reality" TV, or really, the idiots that get paid a ton of money because they're "reality" stars. (Jersey Shore cast, I'm looking at you!) Did you know that Snooki gets something like $200,000 to just SHOW UP at a red carpet event. Um, it would take me 4 years to make that much money. The Situation is supposed to earn 5 million bucks this year...for what? Showing off his abs? Ugh. Of course, I watch the damn show...
9. Drivers who don't follow the "this line, that line" rule. As if cutting me off and not letting me go in front of you will get you to your destination *that* much faster. Um, did you happen to see the 500 cars in front of you? Didn't think so.
10. Cats. Really, it's not their fault, I'm just deathly allergic and can't be in a house with one for more than an hour or two before my respiratory system is compromised.
So, there you have it. Things that bother me, today, at least.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Hating on a Supermodel
Gisele Bundchen (no, I'm not going to look up the code to type the damn umlaut) bugs me.
It's not that she's a supermodel. It's not that she's married to (gag) Tom Brady. It's not that she travels around the world and makes more money for walking around in her underwear for a few minutes, than I'll ever see in my lifetime.
It's the way that she is always going onandonandonandon in the media about her two sons, while Bridget Moynahan, the mother of Gisele's step-son keeps her private life quiet.
I get that Gisele loves the step-son as if he were her own, I've been there. I've been a step-mom to two (whom I adore!) and Babe is Boo's step-dad...and he calls Boo "his" son. So, I understand taking a child, not of your loins, into your family and heart and loving them as if they were your bio-kid.
But for some reason, her going onandonandonandon about how great step-son is with bio-son, and how close they are just...gets me. I guess I see it from Bridget's point of view. I mean, while Boo doesn't have a "step-mom" he's very close to his dad *and* dad's girlfriend. While I know that Boo is so lucky to have sooooooo many people in his life, it hurts just a squick to know that there's another woman out there that he adores--and he should. She's wonderful with him, and I know, from experience, that it takes a special person to love another's child like your own. I just wonder if it's gut-wrenching for Bridget when Gisele gushes about her "two amazing boys" knowing that one of those boys is hers too.
/my attempt at being philosophical
It's not that she's a supermodel. It's not that she's married to (gag) Tom Brady. It's not that she travels around the world and makes more money for walking around in her underwear for a few minutes, than I'll ever see in my lifetime.
It's the way that she is always going onandonandonandon in the media about her two sons, while Bridget Moynahan, the mother of Gisele's step-son keeps her private life quiet.
I get that Gisele loves the step-son as if he were her own, I've been there. I've been a step-mom to two (whom I adore!) and Babe is Boo's step-dad...and he calls Boo "his" son. So, I understand taking a child, not of your loins, into your family and heart and loving them as if they were your bio-kid.
But for some reason, her going onandonandonandon about how great step-son is with bio-son, and how close they are just...gets me. I guess I see it from Bridget's point of view. I mean, while Boo doesn't have a "step-mom" he's very close to his dad *and* dad's girlfriend. While I know that Boo is so lucky to have sooooooo many people in his life, it hurts just a squick to know that there's another woman out there that he adores--and he should. She's wonderful with him, and I know, from experience, that it takes a special person to love another's child like your own. I just wonder if it's gut-wrenching for Bridget when Gisele gushes about her "two amazing boys" knowing that one of those boys is hers too.
/my attempt at being philosophical
Monday, December 6, 2010
A Little Bit o' This, A Little Bit o' That
It's been a while...
Since my last post:
*Bay turned 2
*I drove from Broomfield, Colorado to Omaha, Nebraska with my mom, dad, brother, sister-in-law, 2 nieces, sister, her dog, Babe, Boo, and Bay. Other than Bay puking all over me right before we got to my aunt's house and the HORRIBLE wind, the trip out and back was pretty uneventful. I got to see my cousin, whom I haven't seen in years, my aunt, my uncle, as well as my grandmother (who doesn't remember who the heck I am, but is a hoot to listen to--she told all of us to "go to Hell" at Thanksgiving dinner.)
*In the same trip, visited my grandparents' house, went to see University of Nebraska kick the snot out of CU, and hung out with my siblings. I, unfortunately, didn't get to see my old drinking buddy, Jody, but, hey, tickets there are CHEAP!
*Played a soccer game...in goal...those of you that know me understand how hil-frelling-larious this is. Needless to say, we got our asses handed to us.
*Babe's 8th grade boys basketball team won their championship game. Go them!
*Babe and I both managed to get sick at the same time. Sore throat, hacking cough...fun times at our house sure to be on their way.
Meh. That's all I got.
Since my last post:
*Bay turned 2
*I drove from Broomfield, Colorado to Omaha, Nebraska with my mom, dad, brother, sister-in-law, 2 nieces, sister, her dog, Babe, Boo, and Bay. Other than Bay puking all over me right before we got to my aunt's house and the HORRIBLE wind, the trip out and back was pretty uneventful. I got to see my cousin, whom I haven't seen in years, my aunt, my uncle, as well as my grandmother (who doesn't remember who the heck I am, but is a hoot to listen to--she told all of us to "go to Hell" at Thanksgiving dinner.)
*In the same trip, visited my grandparents' house, went to see University of Nebraska kick the snot out of CU, and hung out with my siblings. I, unfortunately, didn't get to see my old drinking buddy, Jody, but, hey, tickets there are CHEAP!
*Played a soccer game...in goal...those of you that know me understand how hil-frelling-larious this is. Needless to say, we got our asses handed to us.
*Babe's 8th grade boys basketball team won their championship game. Go them!
*Babe and I both managed to get sick at the same time. Sore throat, hacking cough...fun times at our house sure to be on their way.
Meh. That's all I got.
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