Manic Mom-day

You're getting used to being blamed for everything.  Through tears, just last night, your four year old said, "Mommy!  You made me bite my own finger!"  Somehow...

You know you're supposed to celebrate the independent spirit in your toddler, but when she's lying on the floor amid a pile of clean diapers after removing her own poop-filled diaper, attempting to wipe herself, the "I do it!" fight is about the last thing you want to deal with at that moment.

Despite how it was when you were growing up, you've found that the age at which children no longer think their parents know anything isn't in the teens anymore.  It starts around seven.

Since your paper shredder broke months ago, and the pile of to-be-shredded junk mail has officially taken over your computer room, you set your girls loose with a pair of safety scissors and permission to mutilate the papers in front of them.  An hour later, you take the full trash bag of shreds and crumples to the trashcan with the sinking feeling that this "brilliant idea" is probably going to backfire, and you high-tail it inside to better safeguard your important, not-to-be-shredded documents.  But hey, at least the shredding is done.  For now.

You've learned through many a fight with miniature spaghetti-stained clothes that spaghetti night at home means no shirts on the kids.  That's right...keepin' it classy.

You used to think when your kids were toddlers that they were too young to help out around the house.  Now you take advantage of it while you can.  At least at that age they're impressionable and agreeable.  They're great for making deliveries from one room to another.  (e.g. - Here, Sarah, take this toilet paper to the bathroom.)

You realize your four year old is trying to develop a taste for coffee when you find her walking around the living room with a mini-mug into which she's poured a tablespoon of coffee and stirred a cup of sugar and a half a pint of creamer as evidenced by the mess she left in the kitchen.

 

P.S. - I promise that's not the only mug I own.  But it is my favorite.

It's probably some sort of exploitation, but you let your four year old stay up late as long as she keeps rubbing your head, brushing your hair, and/or putting lotion on your legs and feet.  The greasy spot in your hair from sixteen squirts of No More Tangles while she plays hairdresser is totally worth it.

You might be the worst parent ever, but you tell your child that if he/she scores a goal in soccer they can pick the restaurant of their choice to go to after the game, knowing that the chances of your excessively passive children actually kicking the ball, let alone scoring are slim to none.  (Of course, you don't tell them you think that.)  It worked pretty well at motivating them to go after the ball.  The sad thing is that after seeing them "kick up" the effort you realize how bad eating at home must really be to them.

Your heart swells with pride at your kids' soccer games when in the afternoon heat with temps in the 90's, they persevere and don't even mention how unbearably hot it is out there.  You could stand to take a lesson from them.

Kids are awesome.  (Most of the time.)

[Disney's] Hollywood Studios

The fourth and final park in our Disney adventure was Hollywood Studios (which I couldn't stop referring to all week as Universal Studios, which is not the same thing...it was very Joyce-like of me).  This will be the shortest post of all of the Disney-related posts for a variety of reasons:  it's the smallest park, it was pouring rain the first day we went so I didn't take my camera, and the second day we went we left shortly after lunchtime.

If I could post one picture about my predominant memory of Disney's Hollywood Studios,  it would be this one:

Those are our ponchos, drying as they lay draped over the backseat of the van.  Coupled with our umbrellas, we stayed dry enough, but it was a cold, cold rain (atypical for Florida), so our tootsies were frozen in our flip flops as we waded through the inches of water puddling here and there.  Not so much a review of the park, but a recollection of our own personal experience.  And just a word of advice - always bring ponchos & umbrellas in the event it rains.

Despite the rain, it was packed at Hollywood Studios.  I think it's just that way, regardless, because the park is so much smaller than the others.

In the rain we caught a bunch of shows - The Little Mermaid, Indiana Jones' Stunt Show, the Lights! Motors! Action! Extreme Stunt Show (with cars) that was even more impressive in the deluge, and Disney Junior Live on Stage (which, showcasing a bunch of Playhouse Disney shows like Little Einsteins, Jake & the Neverland Pirates, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, was awesome).  We watched a 3D Muppet movie (during which Ben asked, "What's a muppet?" and I felt simultaneously sad and old).  And basically hung out indoors.  Most everything that was outside was closed anyway.   We did manage to ride the Tower of Terror, and got Fastpasses for The Rockin' Rollercoaster, but it broke down while the boys were in line.

When we came back a few days later, we spent our time on the headliners.  Ben absolutely loved the Tower of Terror and I think he was impressed with the Rockin' Rollercoaster, but maintained that Expedition Everest was the best ride at all the parks.

We went directly to Toy Story Mania for Fastpasses but we weren't going to be able to return until nearly 4pm, and we hadn't planned on staying that long, so we endured the alleged 60 minute wait.  There is plenty to look at in the line.  And what amazes me about Disney World in general, is how detailed every, single thing is.  Right down to the giant prop crayons, with paper peeled off.  That's amazing, right?

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The ride was awesome, but we voted as a family and we think Buzz Lightyear's ride at the Magic Kingdom is just as fun - and the wait is not as long.  So, take that how you will.  We rode Buzz's ride about five times in two days.  We only managed to ride Toy Story Mania once.  And the rides are very similar to each other.

On our way between attractions, we stopped for a cameo in front of Lightning McQueen & Mater.

We walked through the Honey I Shrunk the Kids set/playground (which again made me feel old).  Check Abby out as she plowed into the kid below her.  She got in trouble.  (But I think the boy who took too long to get out of the way was halfway responsible.  Sound just like a mom, don't I?)

 

Then we waited on the boys at the Rockin' Roller Coaster.  For the record, this day, it felt like we were in Orlando, Florida.  

 

And what girl can resist trying on wigs?  

 

The Rockin' Roller Coaster was the last ride the boys rode before we departed from our inaugural Disney vacation.  It's also the first time in a week we thought we might have lost a kid, due to Sam and Ben getting split up in the single-rider line.  Ben got off about 5 rounds after Sam.  PHEW.

To sum up (I think you might know what's coming), Disney is awesome!

P.S. - We'd have been far less efficient during our trip without the guidance of The Unofficial Guide to Walk Disney World.   It was a huge help!

Long ago in a faraway land...

It feels like about a century ago that we pulled into the parking lot of Epcot and made our way toward the signature, giant silver ball.  It has been about six weeks.  And before my memory fails me completely, I am bound and determined to chronicle our first Disney trip by park for posterity, and by golly, today's the day I knock Epcot off the list.

Maybe not so poignant a beginning as the others, but like I said, I have to get to it before I forget all of the magical details.

We put Epcot off, not knowing what to expect.  I had never been there and all of the literature I read indicated that it was the least stimulating (read: most boring) of the parks.  Maybe it was because of our low expectations, but Epcot pretty much rocked. 

(I recognize that if I keep saying "Disney was awesome!" I'm going to get my name removed from the credible reviewers list...but if I had found something bad to say, I would.)

Perhaps Epcot might have been less alluring back in the days when character greetings were taboo.  But they aren't.  So, pretty much, that's what we did.  And Abby absolutely delighted in it.  Ben was a good sport too.  He had to meet a lot of princesses.

Sam and I coordinated a tag-team parenting strategy where one of us would take Ben on the "thrill rides" while the other of us would stand in line with Abby to meet whomever it was available.  She wasn't picky.  And she was perfectly content to meet whomever was in the shorter line.  (For this, her parents were very grateful.)

This is the story of Epcot - in photos (but not exclusively because you know I love captions).

As we made our way around the World Showcase...

In France, Abby elected to pose by the topiary version of  Belle because the live Belle was wearing her common blue dress with apron.  Apparently, Abby can't be seen with princesses unless they're in evening-wear.

With the beautiful Aurora.  (She really was pretty inside and out.)

In Morocco, both kids posed with Aladdin & Jasmine.  (No, really, we made Ben do that.  Hahahahaha.  He got a lot of points from me for that.  He's not usually such a good sport.)  Ben said, "I didn't know Aladdin was from Morocco."  Neither did I, kid.  At Epcot, they just go with "close enough".  I guess they didn't figure our little geography nerd would call them out on it.

 

In China, they met Mulan.  At first sight, Ben exclaimed, "Who is that!?"  Then he remembered that Mulan didn't always look like a boy.

In Future World, while Ben was off doing things like experiencing G-forces at Mission: Space, designing his own roller-coaster at the Sum of All Thrills, and collecting and disposing of virtual trash at Don't Waste It!, Abby met Vidia and Rosetta. (Rosetta was very chatty.  I think it made Abby nervous.)

We were 2nd in line to meet Daisy Duck.  (Meeting Daisy was almost not optional.  We left her line at the Magic Kingdom in favor of eating lunch.  That was not the choice Abby would have made and was very clear about it.  No worries.  We found Daisy at Epcot.  phew!)

 Stitch was next to Daisy, so when I asked Abby if she wanted to hug him, she said, "Sure."  Just like that.  See...told you she wasn't picky. . (She's never even seen Lilo & Stitch.)

 Obviously this is Bolt, but from across-the-way, I thought it was the clock-wielding rabbit from Alice & Wonderland.  Abby didn't care either way.  "Sure."

The KidCot stops made the more-educational World Showcase a bit more exciting for the kids.  They got to color a bear on a stick at each country with Sharpies (gasp!  No, really...what as Epcot thinking!?  Guess Crayola wasn't interested in sponsoring them?).  They also collected a stamp from each country, kind of like a passport.  A few of the countries wrote the kids' names in their languages.  (That was super cool to me.)

Our favorite attraction (if you will) at Epcot wasn't really an attraction at all, but a retail store for Coca-Cola, Club Cool.  If you've ever been to the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, you know that at the end of the tour, they let you sample cokes from all over the world (including the more popular flavors from the U.S.).  Club Cool features only the lesser-known flavors from other countries, after all, that's the theme of Epcot, I think.  They had a delicious ginger-ale that Sam and I enjoyed.  Abby & Ben liked the Mezzo-Mix from Mexico which was an orange-cola.  Beverly, the Italian option, was the talk of the place.  It tasted like battery acid/cough syrup. 

It left such a big impression on Ben that he traipsed all the way over to Italy to ask the stamp guy if he'd ever tried it, and if so, did he like it?  He talked with the man for about a minute and returned to us.  We asked him what he said and Ben said, "I don't know.  I couldn't understand him." 

Glad we did that.  Now we'll never know.  (Guess Ben gets his accent-interpreting skills from his mother.)

Epcot was a great break from the super-scary rides (according to Abby) of the other parks, but had enough rides to keep both kids thoroughly happy.  Abby enjoyed (to our surprise) Test Track, and racing around the track at high speeds.  She's so random. 

Oh, one thing, the worst ride at all of the parks is found at Epcot.  Journey into the Imagination with Figment.  Sam and I just looked at each other and said, "huh?!" at the end.  Feel free to skip it. 

My other tip...definitely get a fastpass for Soarin' first thing in the morning.  We all loved it.  (But I wouldn't enjoy waiting in line for 80 minutes, and that happens fast.)

Epcot, check.  We'll come again some day.  That's a promise.

Not Quite Mom of the Year

Maybe I won't win the Mom of the Year award this year.  I mean, I did just let Sarah get burnt to a crisp at Abby and Ben's soccer games yesterday morning.  But, hey!  At least we weren't late to them (like we usually are). 

Maybe I won't win the Mom of the Neighborhood award this year because we have rules.  Lots of them, apparently.  And if you want to play here, you have to follow them.  This includes having to be nice to baby sisters and younger neighbors.  But, hey!  At least we're consistent!

Maybe I'm not deserving of the "Best Mom Ever" mug or button or glow-in-the-dark keychain because there really and truly probably is a better mom than me out there.

And I'm okay with that.

Because I'm doing the best I can.  And I know my mom did the best she could.  And I hope some day my kids realize that we moms aren't perfect.  And no matter how hard we try to be, we'll always fall short.

But we are trying our best.

Maybe I'm not Mom of the Year.  But in the past year, I have been a chauffeur, a cook, a housekeeper, a body pillow, a one-man haz-mat team, a referee, a shoulder to cry on, a would-be ambulance driver, a medicine administrator, a boo-boo kisser, a consequence deliverer, a tutor, a fundraiser solicitor, a verbal wikipedia, and a brave enough soul to do at least one project with glitter and a toddler.

I have given more hugs, changed more diapers, answered more questions, and smiled at the always surprising randomness that comes only with being a mom more times than I can count.

I have also raised my voice too much and too often, lost my temper over inconsequential things, and pitched a few fits that put my toddler's foot-stomping to shame.

(That's transparency, folks.)

I'm not perfect.  Not by a long shot.

My children afford me a small glimpse of the grace of my Heavenly Father.  I mess up daily, and yet they always manage to forgive me and love me anyway.

Thank God for that.

Some days are hard, but all of the days are rewarding, even if it's after the fact that I realize that.  There are times when I find myself wondering, "Why did I even have kids anyway?"  Then I wander into the living room and find them folding towels (or should I say "folding towels"?) together.  And then I remember...

It's so I don't have to do chores all by myself anymore.

Okay, that's just a small perk.  But even that heaping pile of disheveled towels is an example of the amazing blessing it is to be called by God to be a mom.  He picked me for this adventure, and he gave me these three perfectly imperfect children.

It's no small task, and maybe I won't win Mother of the Year, but I do know this...

...I'm going to be the best I can be.

And I'm just going to love them.

Happy Mother's Day to all of the beautiful, talented, inspiring, less-than-perfect women in my life who have taught me so very much about being a mom.  You rock my socks off!

To the women whose mothers have already left us, and whose babies were taken before the rest of the world could love them along with you, my heart is with you today.  Big hugs and love from me to you.

It's always sunny in San Diego.

When I take a break from blogging, it's generally safe to assume I'm out of town.

This time is no exception. 

Sam and I have been busy tourists for the past 5 days here in sunny San Diego.  Every time I call home I am greeted with haggard, out-of-breath, exhausted "hellos" from my parents who were so kind as to keep our precious, but not-always-easy kids for a week for us so we could go on this adventure.

So there you have it. 

Sun.  San Diego.  No kids.  And the absence of humidity, which allows my sweat function to actually cool my body off in 80+ degree temperatures.

Yeah, I'm not taking a break from all of that to blog.  (I'm sure you understand.) 

P.S. - Don't be jealous of my hair.  I know it looks amazing.