How funky is your chicken?

Flashlight and I are thinking of getting some more interesting-looking chickens, possibly something like this one, which looks like a cross between a chicken and a poodle. Evolution is a strange, strange thing.

I'm sorry that I haven't been very active on the blog lately. Hairbaby turned 9 weeks old yesterday and its been "challenging". Flashlight, Headbanger and Hairbaby are all doing well, but I went through a few weeks of depression that made me feel like a crazy person. I think that I'm through that now and have made peace with the fact that I'm now a mom to two (very) little girls. I only became a mom last year and to suddenly have two has been overwhelming. Fortunately, things are settling down and the girls have some overlapping nap time and we only have bad nights every other night. Those small graces have been enough for me regain some emotional strength and perspective. But for a while, I was worried that I'd become The Crazy Lady and would be The Crazy Lady until they started kindergarden.

What makes you The Crazy Lady?

Summer Full 'o' Flakes

So I have had a couple of bad experiences with other people's lack of commitment and consideration this summer. 

I started a mother-daughter book club this summer for Sassafrass and some of her friends and their mothers. I asked about 10 mother-daughter pairs if they wanted to participate. Everyone seemed really excited about it. I said to each mother from the start that I wouldn't feel hurt if they did not want to participate, but to let me know right away. We only met three times the entire summer and only read three short children's novels. I asked everyone for their vacation schedule so that I could plan out 3 dates during the summer when everyone could meet. So the total commitment aside from the reading was 4 1/2 hours. Only three mother-daughter pairs consistently attended. The others did not read the book in time (although they had an entire month to read it each time) or had lame excuses of why they couldn't come (and always after the fact when I would run into them in town). I was really irritated because I put a lot of effort into making sure everyone knew about each book and each meeting (I set up a Mother-Daughter book club blog for goodness sake with all the information on it) and went so far as to send out reminder emails and sometimes phone calls. What I wish is that those flaky people would have just said that they couldn't commit to reading and the meetings in the first place. 

Just say no if you are not interested in something. There is no shame in it. I do it all the time. My friend asked me if I wanted to try rowing this summer and I just told her I wasn't interested right away instead of saying maybe and then causing her to wonder if I was really interested or not. It is kinder to say no than to say maybe or yes and then flake on someone.

Another instance was HotDog's 5th birthday party. He had a Kung Fu Panda/Chinese theme and my mother and I put a ton of effort into his party. We invited 12, 7 said they were coming and only 3 showed up. HotDog didn't care, but I sure did. I made a Devil's Food cake from scratch and decorated it to look like a panda face. I made goodie bags out of Chinese Takeout boxes and printed thank you in Chinese on them. I went so far as to have my mom bring Chinese candy from Chinatown with her to put in the goodie bags. I filled up about 200 water balloons for the kids to throw at Tai Lung (Beau Brummel) as they chased him around the yard. My mom taught them a little lesson on all the wonderful things that were invented in China (she's a Montessori preschool teacher) and then taught them some Tai Chi. We all dressed up in Chinese clothes and we prepared some Chinese food. And only three kids showed up! I happened to see one of the kids who was invited a few days later. Her mother said, "I meant to call you about HotDog's party. I couldn't open the invitation." (It was a word document that I emailed out). She had my number. Why didn't she call? What a LAME excuse. I partially blame myself. I should have called the night before to get a head count, but I thought that might be rude or pushy, but I know now that for a summer event you really have to brand the date and time in people's brains if you want them to show up. 

For Jedi's party we had to pay something like $18/kid in advance so we really needed to know ahead of time who was coming. I sent the invites out 2 weeks in advance and one of his friends never responded. I was in a pickle: should I give their spot to someone else? What if they never told me they were coming, but showed up on the day? They ended up emailing me a few days later saying they were sorry they couldn't come. That information would have been helpful BEFORE the party. We ended up letting our other children each invite a friend and paying extra for one of them which was fine, that made them happy.

I hate that this kind of stuff makes me so angry, but for those of you who know me well, you know that I put my heart and soul into my projects and parties. I think I should stop doing this because it ends up to be really disappointing because people are such flakes nowadays. I guess my problem is that I am sort of a show-off. What would be the point of making a party super cool if only my family were there to enjoy it? What is your view on this? Should I just choose my friends and children's friends more wisely (flakes need not apply)? Should I just have family birthday parties? Should I celebrate my son's half birthdays during the school year instead? Should I become a hermit? Am I crazy to let other people's flakiness ruin my events? What say you?

C'est la rentrée des mamans!

Hi everyone! The title of this post comes from an invitation I received when I was living in France 6 years ago for a mama tea party to celebrate the first day of school. In France, the return to school is called "La Rentée". This invitation implies that it's a new beginning for kids AND their moms.

I have been a homeschooler for two years but this year all three of my children will be going to school all day. Homeschooling, for us, has been an attempt to open the world to our children, expand their experience and exposure to new (and old) ideas. We are living in France until Christmas and it just seemed like keeping them home would be contrary to our philosphy of education. So, we met with the director of the school yesterday and away we go! The kids are nervous but were very comforted by the charming, personable man sitting across the table from them at the school. He told them that his main goal for them would be to become great French speakers, to learn about French culture and to make some friends. He wasn't interested in sweating the rest. I like him already.

I have always loved the fall and the new possibilities it brings, It has always been a more natural time for me than the New Year to start fresh, make plans, get involved, learn something new. I feel energized after a summer of vacations and lounging, late nights, popsicles and ice cream. I feel so excited this year to have some time to pursue some of my interests in France. I want to exercise and take classes, romance my husband and sit in cafés reading books.

I know many of you may have young children who aren't in school yet but you can still have plans! Let's here them ladies!

A Grateful Heart

Many moms, me included, complain at times at the life we are called to lead as "stay-at-home moms". There has been more than one occasion that I have prayed for more in my life, had wished that there was more to my life than tending four kids. But tonight after reading this blog http://adailyscoop.blogspot.com/ & here http://dbkunz.blogspot.com I'll be on my knees thanking my Father in Heaven that tomorrow morning will find Jack coming into my room at 6:15am. I'll thank my Father in Heaven for the fact that I won't be able to go back to sleep because for the next thirty minutes or so Jack will carry on a conversation with his hands. Right when I think this conversation is over and I just might get back to sleep, I'll have to say another prayer of gratitude for the "Ma" I hear coming from the crib in the next room. Asher is awake and the first thing he'll want is me. Not long after this prayer is complete, I'll have another conversation with the Lord and thank Him for the two little girls who just climbed in bed with me. I'll keep that prayer in my heart even when they fight over the covers and push their little brother out of the way so that they can have their backs rubbed. Instead of praying to make it through the day tomorrow, I'll thank my Heavenly Father because I stumbled upon a blog which made me grateful to be a mother of four.

Kids and Sex: A Humorous but Brief Account of My Morning

This morning Flashlight got Headbanger (16 months) out of bed and took her into our bed to give her a bottle, as usual. Afterwards, he set her down on the floor to play and, well, we got amorous (with two babies we have to make the most of what little free time we have). Just as things were "ending", Headbanger, with her sweet innocent face, pops up and hands me a condom (still in the wrapper) that she found on the bedside table. Classic.

I don't think I should tell her this story when she is older.

Cheap Dates Fo' Po' Folks

I don't know about you gals, but I am always looking for ways to save money. Babysitting is usually free when we use our babysitting co-op, but when we don't our dates cost twice as much. Once, a sorority girl babysat for us and her fee cost twice as much as what we spent on the date! It ain't right. I read this article that had some good ideas for cheap dates that are fun, but won't wound your wallet.