What's new? Not a dang thing.

People ask me this all the time. How does one answer this question when there is nothing new to report but still keep the conversation going? I guess I can reply with "not a dang thing" then ask the same "what's new?" question right back. Then we can stare blankly at eachother for a while. Am I the only one who has this problem?

Sunday, January 13

This morning Kendal learned the joy of practical jokes. She woke up first and brought all her blankets and Horton into my bed. Then ran into Logan's room to wake him up.
Kendal: LOGAN!! WAKE UP!! SANTA'S BEEN HERE AGAIN!!
Logan: Nuh uh, I'm sleeping.
Kendal: Ok, but you are late for school you gotta get up and get to school!
Logan: OH CRAP
He got up and dressed at warp speed and came in to show me how his new belt looks with his uniform and was ready to go... When I told him it's Sunday he was NOT happy. Kendal was already snuggled between me and Loopy. Dozing off with a smile on her face. Watch out world, Kendal's on a roll.

Later we took the kids to the park for some swinging (Kendal) and skateboarding (Logan). This park has a wooden walkway and some trails. We will have to explore those another day but we did see a bunch of turtles and a cute gator in the pond. They were all pretty sure we were going to give them bread or something but we didn't bring any. And the signs EVERYWHERE tell you not to do that. Judging by the way they came right up to us nobody follows that rule.

Monday, January 14

Logan was up most of the night coughing and sniffling. He was SO tired in the morning and asked me to go to Walgreens to get him some medicine before I pick him up from school. Something that you need to know about Logan is that he despises medicine. It doesn't matter what kind. Crunchy, meltaways, liquid, pills he hates it ALL. This means he really felt crappy. You can read about his disdain for the Tylenol with Codine that was prescribed for him after his tonsil/adenoid surgery in THIS POST somewhere around Feb 5th.
After several doses of ineffective cold meds it occurred to me that this is probably an allergy issue.. back to Zyrtec. He will only take the generic chew-able tuti fruti version. And only if I let him chase it with something like soda and a tootsie roll.

Today was take everything you own that is yellow to pick up Logan at school day

Tuesday, January 15

Ok, for about 6 years now we have been trying to get Logan to be less... spazzy. For example, he freaks out to the same degree when stubbing his toe, getting a splinter, or slashing his head open on a gate. We NEVER know if it is as bad as he makes it sound (except the gate/head thing, that was really bloody) Anyway. I sort of told him that if he wants to be a skater and do awesome tricks he needs to be more of a (don't judge me, I'm out of ideas) Bad-ass. If he's going to sport a mohawk and hang with the big kids he needs to take risks, not be afraid to fall, and stop freaking out like a crazy toddler when he scrapes his knee. We agreed to change the word "bad-ass" to punk because he is the bad word police. So now if Logan tells you he is a punk, he kid he is trying to be cool and brave instead of whiny and screaming all the time.
Part of being punk is apparently letting your sister beat you in the head with a toys on the swing. Kids are weird.

Wednesday, January 16

Kendal does not crack open peanuts, she hatches them. Also... we need to learn to enunciate "PEA-NUT". She is clearly saying Penisssss. And she also describes them as yummy and salty. It just goes downhill from there. I am still working on my 'misspoken' post about Kendal's experimental use of the English language. 

She is also having sellers remorse. One night last week when she was WIDE awake at 10pm she decided to go through her toys and sell some things that she doesn't play with. This included about 1/2 her My Little Ponies. Now she is incredibly sad and wants them all back. Sorry kid. Doesn't work like that.

I took all my books off my old nook and gave it to Logan. He LOVES it. I put a few of his favorites on there and a couple that looked like something he'd like. I LOVE tueble.com! I told him that once he fills up his punk point chart he can choose a new skin and cover for it. This motivation seems to be working better than cash bribes.

Thursday, January 17

We've been watching quite a bit of 'old school' stuff on TV this month. I love Animaniacs and I've always known there were adult-ish jokes that I didn't totally get at the time. Now I get it and understand more my my mom made her signature "I disapprove of that" face quite often when we watched cartoons and sitcoms of the 80's and 90's. Me and Loopy just giggle to ourselves then justify leaving it on because they ARE teaching lessons with 50 States and their Capitols.. and the Countries of the World song. We must not forget the Wheel of Morality. Now I want to go watch Animaniacs.


Later that night I was channel surfing.. which RARELY happens because we are always watching stuff on the Wii and Netflix. ALF was on and I was super excited because we used to watch that as a family on TGIF back in the day. Good times. And I never understood my mom always had the "I disapprove of that" face. How can you go wrong with an alien that eats cats and lives with a tight knit family who accepts him as one of their own?
Well in this episode ALF had amnesia. He thinks he's an insurance agent and called into "the office". The lady who answered at this insurance office said "Why do you sound weird? Is your wife with you? Listen buster, I waited at the motel for over an hour! Where were you!?" Hmm.. maybe that's why. For the record my kids thought the show was lame and decided to go to bed early because I wouldn't change the channel. Which was an unexpected bonus.

Friday, January 18

This morning my awesome kids let me sleep in (in the got up 3 times sort of way to help Kendal in the bathroom, make breakfast, and breakup a headbutting fight) because Logan had the day off. They kept sending me back to bed. Once I found my phone (under the bed of coarse) I realized I had forgotten my friend Kari's daughter's party was moved to today. Seriously. I don't know why this lady still talks to me. I did however get Grubbs to work on time and even had time to stop for donuts. 

I've starting to go through the kids stuff and sell what they don't use. Biggest stuff goes first! Kendal is proving that she still uses her little people house by filling it with toy snakes.

Logan just did a cannon ball off the bed in the playroom and landed on the big wooden IKEA storage shelves. He said "I am really trying but I just can't be a brave punk right now! Please get me a bandaid, it hurts too much" He has a foot long scrape on his side, nasty bruise on his shin and hip.. and his foot is swelling nicely. DOH! From the location off the injuries I'd say he had pretty good form though. So that counts for something, right?

Saturday, January 19

My kids are doing Yoga on Wii Fit. I would take pictures for you but they aren't wearing pants... come to think of it, this is why there are pretty much no pictures in this post. 

Sunday, January 20

Logan only wanted to stay for the cake..

One of Logan's pre-k friends was having a birthday party that I had RSVP'ed for. That is unusual for me, I'm terrible at RSVP's. So the day of the party when Logan had a meltdown because he didn't feel like getting up and dressed I just wasn't having it and made him go anyway. Of coarse he ended up having a good time with his friends (except for the 3 times he came out of the bounce house crying) and didn't want to leave.. that's just the way it goes I guess. 

Buddies!

As a parent, this particular game of beat the Pinata was terrifying. Partly because all the kids were WAY too close to the dizzy, blindfolded, stick wielding child and partly because if ANY kid is going to get clubbed it would be mine. As you can see, Gaetano's mom was in the wrong place when the angry pig finally fell. There was trampling and screeching .. yay birthday parties.

Then Rita decided we should start drinking. I LOVE this lady. She is an incredibly witty and sweet full blood Italian who is the matriarch of the whole big family that was at the party. She had one of the 'boys' (her god-son I think) make us the house special. 'Nona' chugged hers before I had begun sipping mine. I'll miss her when we move!

Monday, January 21

Today Logan told me that its Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's birthday and we celebrate that because he is really important. I asked him why and he said because he changed the whole country. He thought wasn't right to have 'colors only' and 'white only' signs on everything. So he did the right thing and helped change all that. But someone shot him with a gun. But he still made a difference anyway. Isn't that amazing?! yup, it sure is kiddo! ♥ my smart boy

We spent most of our afternoon at the park with friends. It was actually relaxing! Logan was off with the other kids and didn't bother me. Kendal thought it was her job to bring me all the mulch on the playground while I sat and talked to OTHER GROWN UPS!! Ok, I had to push her on the swing a few times but it wasn't as high maintenance as usual. The kids were wearing pants, but I didn't take pictures. Damn.

Tuesday, January 22

This morning I had a screaming crying spoiled kid who didn't want to go back to school after a 4 day weekend? Even Kendal said can we PLEASE get him outta here? I like the things Logan's says to get out of school..
"I don't need to go to school. I know enough"
"I'm too tired"
"My throat/ ears/ stomach/ toes/back/ head hurts!!!" (you know from all that yelling)
"No. I'm. Not. Going"
When that doesn't work he tells me other ridiculous stuff.
"I refuse to learn ANYTHING today"
"I don't want to be a punk anymore"
"I'm never going to go back to Disney"
We don't have passes anyway. but Kendal was appalled at such a claim. she said "You're NEVER going to ride Dumbo!? Logan! Don't say that" Then more unintelligible muttering in disbelief.

Most people don't know that
Hell freezes over at least once a year..

It's been a little chilly here the last few days but nothing a light jacket or sweatshirt won't solve. Turns out my friends to the North are getting their first real snow of the year.




One of my favorite places in MI is the beach. The pier and lighthouse are something I really miss because they are beautiful all year round. (almost anyway) Here is what it looks like this week...

 Even Lakeshore and St. Joe had snow days. Back in MY day we NEVER got snow days! Heaven forbid I had to drive up the hill downtown because that is impossible on black ice in a Chevette! Even with the turbo engine my dad added. I would try to get some momentum and still fishtail and slide back down. I think they've all gone soft. Either way. I'll take the chilly 65 degree sunny Florida weather any day. Maybe next year we'll be able to go up and enjoy the snow. I sort of want to go sledding.

Wednesday, January 23

Me and Kendal went down to Ormond to meet Uncle Chris for lunch at Steak N Shake and return his mom's computer (Loopy had to overhaul it a bit) Kendal was shockingly well behaved and even ate some french fries. One day next week I'm hoping to find a daytime sitter so Me and Chris can go for a bike ride. It's been too long since I've been riding and I'm starting to get twitchy about it. 

We stopped over at Party City to pick up a bag of balloons to make MORE balloon animals, hats, and swords and Yankee Candles were 1/2 off. Bonus. Kendal wanted to pose with this giant M&M and show off her big bunch of tootsie pops. Which I plan to use for poop bribery.. if you don't understand then you don't have a 3yr old.



By the time we got home it was almost time to get Logan from school but I was REALLY tired. Like inexplicably tired. I had to set my phone alarm cause I kept dozing off. After we picked him up Kendal was passed out on the couch and I think I slept for 2 hours while Logan played games. No idea what that was all about. 

Thursday, January 24

This morning I actually made it to coffee time at Panera Bread. Luci did too so that means that hell really did freeze over because neither of us like morning. At. All. To top it off we decided to go for a walk around the lake in Town Center. Look at us being all motivated! I was going to suggest she come over and sit around the house with me and let the kids play. Turns out we are all just as content being outside and one of my goals is getting more exercise. It was a win win I suppose. We are planning to make it a weekly thing. Stay tuned to find out if that actually happens.

Logan is having an epic meltdown for unknown reasons. I think it has something to do with making him nachos. I took some audio for you because I can't even describe the ridiculous of it. It was going to be a video, but Logan yelled louder and ran into my bathroom when he saw the camera.



I also asked Kendal about what was going on with her brother..


Today I received a random box of stuff from my dad. It was addressed to Kendal so Logan instantly lost his shit again and started screaming about the injustice of it all and the world hates him and proves it by addressing boxes to his little sister ect ect ect. I told him that Grandpa must have heard him all the way in MI and screaming crazy kids don't get presents in the mail. This was not an acceptable explanation at ALL.
Anyway, in the box was:
1. A platter and 3 matching coffee cups that go with our dish set
2. A pair of lacy undies that were meant to be a stocking stuffer
3. A beach bag that says Lake Michigan. Unsalted and Shark Free
4. for Kendal: a care bear, nemo purse, monster pencil holder that unzips into a rope, and a pj shirt because she doesn't wear pants anyway
5. for Logan: 2 books
6. for Loopy: a belated b-day card, a birthday songs dvd with a Little People them (the toys, not the midgets) and a book to help him at the new job.
It came with a note explaining that he just wanted to see how much he could fit into a small flat rate shipping box. "If it fits, It Ships.

Overheard from the play room...
Kendal: Logan, please help me put Elephant up here.
Logan: no, I don't want to.
Kendal getting a little frantic: But Logan, PLEASE! He wants to watch this.
Logan: NO I JUST WANT TO HOLD IT!!
Kendal: YEESSSS!!! (loud thud)
Logan: YEEeeOOOCCHHH (smacking noises)
Kendal running into the living room: MOM! Logan his me here on my foot.
Logan screaming from the other room: BUT MOOOM!! SHE JUMPED ON MY HEAD!!!
I have no words..

HEY!! Who wants to go out for dinner/ coffee/ strong drinks with me and NO kids this evening?!