We Conquered It....Kinda

Today was our city's annual 5k race.  And I signed the boys and I up for it.  Rionn opted to skate it.  And well, I intended to put my jogging stroller to good use.  (Although I've already had to replace the tires on it once because it's used all the time.)  So we woke up early on this crisp morning and headed down town.

As you can see, Jet was nice and warm and comfy in the stroller.  

And Rionn was ready to skate his 3.2 miles.  There were tons of people there.  We've always just gone to the parade.  So I was surprised how many people participated in the race.  And how many people took it seriously.  Some people had running gear on.  Some speed skaters were completely decked out as if they were going to the Olympics.  We showed up in our every day attire.  

Pretty soon after we got signed in and got our shirts, we headed to the starting line.  Where it was loud.  You could feel the excitement.  And we did pretty good.  We finished in 59 minutes and 30 seconds.  Of course, I walked the whole way since I did something to my back.  I felt pretty good until we got to the uphill part.  Then the whole right side of my body started hurting again.  Jet slept almost the whole way.  And with less than half a mile to go, Rionn's skates broke.  It's a good thing I put his shoes in the bottom of the stroller.  So we did have to make a small pit stop.  And we didn't finish dead last.  Plus we plain finished.  

And Mr. Muscles ran across the finish line instead of skating.  Then as I crossed, he said that he wants to do another one.  AND, do our city's 5k next year.  We'll see.  

You Know You're A Mom When...

Last night hubby was watching a documentary on the African wildlife.  And on that documentary was a segment on the water buffalo.  Hubby was very interested.  All I think about was Larry the cucumber singing the water buffalo song.  It goes a little something like this...

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And since last night, I've had the song in my head.

Our First Event

So my lil' 4-H'er had his first major event this weekend.  It was county achievement night.  Plus it was 4-H's 100th birthday this year.  And though he's been in 4-H for 2 months, he did get to go and help set up and watch people get their awards.  We also ran into one of my old 4-H leaders.  Who promptly stated that she was old since her 4-H kids have their own 4-H kids.  And of course, we haven't gotten his white's uniform pieces in so he wore my scarf, and a school uniform shirt, and blue jeans.  It worked for the night.  Next major event he will have his tie, button up shirt, white pants, and green hat.

I'm JUST The Mom

Rionn has been having some trouble in math.  He insists that his 2nd grade teacher taught them that they can start any math problem anywhere and come out with the right answer.  So say he has a problem that is 324+485.  He can start with 3+4 and so on.  Well, I got his state test scores back and he scored 100% in the following areas: Place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, algebra and functions.  So why he insists on taking short cuts that he knows won't come up with the answer is beyond me.  So I told him that I do math "the old fashioned" way.  To which I got, "You're just a mom.  My teacher said that I could do it this way.  And he is a teacher."  He didn't like when I asked how that method was going for him.  He's on week 3 of no screen time.  Then I got the it's only one c,d, and f.  It finally clicked when I told him that his "special" school has an 80% requirement.  All kids have to have 80% or better.  I told him that he could go to the elementary school around the corner where there are no science labs, composting, iPads, organic garden, and rocket building.  Then it clicked that all of his friends go to his school.  Where things are plush and exciting.  So I may just be the mom, but mom's old fashioned way apparently is working for the grade.  So I may be a little smarter than he thinks I am.

It's A Love/Hate Relationship....Kinda

So we joined boy scouts.  Hubby thinks that since he had a blast in it when he was a kid almost 30 years ago, that both the boys will too.  And I'm a 4-H through and through.  I mean, my argument for 4-H was that they camp and learn things(like knots, building fires, putting out fires, etc.) and they have animals.  AND, our 4-H has robotics.  Which the kid attending the school of math, science, and technology is very into at the moment.

So we went to recruitment night and signed up.  They were letting families pay through December and then renew for the whole year in January.  I'm not sure how boy scouts is run.  But we signed up and now there are $10 monthly den fee, almost $100 in uniform stuff, and so far his leader wants the kids out at the grocery store selling popcorn every weekend through the end of October.  She looked at me like I was crazy when I told her we wouldn't be selling popcorn every weekend, that we'd like a brochure and he can sell it to family and friends.  She would also like for us to donate our recycling money to the pack.  And then there is the food drive in November and toy drive in December.  She hasn't gotten to any boy scout "activities" that they will be doing so far. I guess they have to attend a pro or college football game.  So she scheduled on that starts at 7:30 at night.  And of course, it's on a day that hubby works.  So it would be both boys and me at the game and then a 2 hour drive home around midnight.  Probably won't be going.

It really is a love/hate relationship.  I'll give it through December.  But so far, it's more hate than love.  And it doesn't look like the love is growing either.

The Mom Hat

***I've written this post several times and deleted several times. Every time I would get ready to post it, something else pops up in life.  It tends to do that when you're a mother of boys.

The mom hat.  It's something that pre-motherhood, many women didn't understand.  And while we as mothers all know about the mom hat, can relate to the mom hat, no two mom hats are alike.  Nor are they created equal.  Every one has this ideal about motherhood.  All of us want to wear the perfect hat.  And while we don't think we accomplish this to other hat standards, we do a great job for our own hat standards.  

The other day, the baby and I accompanied hubby to the doctors.  Just to get out of the house for a while.  It turned into a half of a day affair.  Oh yeah, I brought one diaper with us.  I think it was going to be a 2 hr trip at most.  On the way down to the appt, hubby listened to some personal development.  And the reader talked about doing your best no matter what you do in life.  Even the housewife and mother can give her best and feel great about it.  And that statement hit home.  For the first time in my life, I'm a stay at home mom.  Not just part time.  Or for a few months or weeks.  Till the littlest starts school anyways.  But as I added 4-H mom and cub scout mom to my hat, I realized that I'm JUST a mother.  And JUST a mother isn't that bad, but I almost lost my identity in 6 months.  As I had to put n/a in the occupation line in the applications where I used to put silversmith, I felt a sadness.  Not bad, just that for the past 10 and a half years, I was an employee and had a career so to speak.  

I also had this image of how being a stay at home mom would be.  And it worked.  In my head.  I planned on getting up, showering, making lunches, and nursing the baby all by 7.  When it got a bit cooler, I'd add a run in and get everything done by 8.  I'd also put the baby down for a morning and afternoon nap.  Which would allow me to sew in the morning, clean in the afternoon.  Laundry would always be caught up, breakfast, lunch, and dinner would be homemade.  

And then kidlet #2 arrived.  And he is nothing like his big brother.  He hates the car when it's stops moving.  And hates the car seat.  It will be a long 8+ years.  He also doesn't nap like his brother.  Or play like his brother.  In fact, while we lucked out with 2 easy babies, but they are so different.  And the 8 year age gap wasn't as easy as I thought either.  

The other week was a real test.  We had school for kidlet #1.  We also had 2 days of karate, book fair, back to school night, and cub scouts.  I also had a lactation appointment for #2.  The whole nursing and pumping thing isn't the dream I had either.  One night we went from school, to home for homework and a snack, karate, home to change, and then to cub scouts.  Usually we don't have more than one activity on any given day.  But that day was hectic.  And we got home at 8 to which I threw some corn dogs in the toaster oven, and a bag of frozen peas on the stove and called it dinner.  And it worked for us.

It was a situation like that where I realized just how my mom felt.  Only she had 3 kids doing different activities.  Her mom was full to the brim.  And now that my hat is changing and evolving, I guess I will find a new normal.  It's ok if dinner is frozen peas and corn dogs.  It's ok if laundry doesn't get done one day of the week.  It's even ok to let those dinner dishes go till the morning.  What is important to live life to the best of your ability.  And being happy and not stressing about the little things is the most important part.

 So here's to my new mom hat.  I'm a wife, mother, cook, maid, taxi driver, cheer leader, karate mom, 4-H mom, cub scout mom, 3rd grade room mom, breastfeeding, pumping, baby food making, baby wearing, sometimes running, sometimes exercising, quilting, sewing mom.  As as my life evolves, so will my hat.  And I will enjoy(or at least try to) every minute of it.  Because these kids grow up way to fast.  I know.  Kidlet #1 is already 8 and a half.  And it seems like just yesterday that he was as little as #2.

I Did It, Now I have To

Last night signed the kids and I up for a 5K.  Now I have to do it.  Jet has the easy job of riding in the stroller.  In fact, he'll probably sleep the whole way.  Rionn has opted to skate it.  Not sure he'll make it.  I'll probably put regular footwear in the bottom of the stroller just in case.  And I've already prepped for this by starting a 5k run plan this morning.   Jet loves the outdoors and hopefully it won't be too hot.  We still have a month to get ready for this.

Strays

So all of our pets are adopted.  And by that, I mean, we gave them a home when they didn't have one.  Even the fish.  Goldie just went to fish heaven.  And we got him at a harvest festival carnival.  Yesterday at the Watermelon festival, Rionn won 3 more goldfish.  And well, we opted to take home just one.  And he survived the heat of the day, the 4 hour car ride home, and adapting to a new tank.  Not sure what Rionn plans to name this one.  And I hope it doesn't live forever like the last one.  Cole really wants real fish in our tank.  And well, looks like he may have to wait another 4-5 years.

Watermelon Festival

I get lots of email.  Lots.  But one of the things that I signed up for was Amazon Local.  And in one of their emails were half off tickets to a Watermelon festival.   WHAT?!?  This household can finish off a large watermelon in 3-4 days.  And Jet doesn't count yet.  LOL!  So we headed down to the Rose Bowl and ate watermelon to our hearts content.  And Rionn got his face painted and rode a few rides.  Cole got new sunglasses.  And I got a new dress.  Jet hung out in the stroller all day.  He didn't enjoy the heat.  But then again, who does?  We had fun.  It took a while to get home because of a couple of wildfires.  But other than that, it was a great day.

First Day of School

Yes, today I officially have a 3rd grader.  I don't know how it happened but it did.  He's excited.  Wish I could be.




  

Going On A Hike

We ventured up to Big Bear to go on a hike.  I think I enjoyed it more than Rionn.  And Jet was just glad to be outside.  Rionn had hiking on his summer bucket list.  And halfway through the trail, he told me he was tired of walking and wanted to go hiking.  I laughed and said that hiking is walking.  But it was a beautiful day.  And we even enjoyed a picnic lunch.

Summer

It's been all summer since I posted.  Didn't mean too.  Just got busy.  We even left our laptops at home on vacation.  Didn't mean to do that either.  They were packed and ready to go.  But didn't make it to the car.  Not that they would have been useful anyways.  We went where there is no cell service or internet.  They would have stayed in the bag.

So summer was great.  We were busy.  Museums, vacations, beach trips, summer camp, book clubs.  And while it's still officially summer, it ends for us today.  School starts tomorrow.  Not sure how excited Rionn is about school starting, but I'm excited for him.  3rd grade.  I just can't believe he starts 3rd grade tomorrow.

Our First Fieldtrip

This "homeschooling" business started off slow.  However, we did manage to go on our field trip.  We spent our money locally and went to the local museum.  It was everything about our desert.  Fossils, celebrities, minerals, animals, earthquakes. It was interesting at least.  However, my oldest is quite the game player.  And he loves to win.  So when the museum gave him a scavenger hunt, he wanted to run off and find all the items.  At $7.50 for all of  us to go, we'll have to go back.  He was too worried about finding his scavenger hunt items than to read about the things in the museum. But all in all, we had a good trip.  And maybe we'll get around to going again.

Still Keeping Busy

I've lived on both sides of the fence now.  And I can tell you with all confidence that it's hard to be a stay at home mom and a working mom.  That being said, I feel like I have been neglecting my blogs.  I'm busy.  Karate, book club for Rionn, sewing, cleaning.  And then there is Jet.  At least we don't have to worry about school and being on time early in the morning.  

It's Only Been A Decade

So now that I'm a stay at home mother, there are all kinds of things I get to do now.  Who knew it would be so liberating.  I've cleaned the house without rushing.  No more late night laundry duties.  And then there are the perks too.  No more 2 minute cold showers.  And I get to paint my nails.  It's been a decade since I've painted my nails.  With my job requiring me to work with acetone everyday, nail polish was a waste of time. So since the weather was horrible yesterday, I painted my nails.

Too bad all I could find at home was hot pink.  But I don't have to worry about it.  Maybe next time I'm at the store I'll buy some more.  But until then, I think I'll save this color for when Cole needs to patch a tire.  

Karate Chop

Saturday was Rionn's second tournament.  I was sure he'd do great and he did.  And although he didn't come home with a trophy, he was so much improved that I was actually shocked even though I sit through several classes through the week.  Anyways, this tournament was in Pasadena.  And boy am I glad I do have to deal with LA traffic on a regular basis.  It would literally drive me to the looney bin.

He only competed in forms and sparring.  He did great in forms.  And I had high hopes for him in sparring.  But he went up against that 10 year old girl standing next to him in the picture.  I think he would have had a pretty good chance of placing if he had drawn an easier competitor in the first round.  But he held his own.  He wasn't aggressive enough until she got him pinned to the ground.  Once he got out of it, he went out swinging.  Now we just have to figure out how to channel that "madness" without him being mad or getting beat up first.  

2nd Grade Field Trip

So this year's field trip was in Oak Glen.  And Rionn was thoroughly excited about going.  Then he asked me if I was going to chaperon the trip.  I said sure.  We could be the tour guides since that's where we go to pick pumpkins every year.  Then he was disappointed.  So I thought I could lift him up a bit when I told him maybe it could be like Dirty Jobs and we would get a behind the scenes tour.  So Jet and I dropped Rionn off at school and then headed down to the apple farm.  When we got there it was the same place we always go.  But in a special part that is only for field trips and weddings.

The kids thought they were in for an easy day.  While the weather was nice and the kids had a great time, they learned how to handle chores on the farm without all the modern conveniences.  Rionn's group started off learned to play with stick horses and did a hoop and stick race.  Then they went to story time and learned all about the history of the farm.  Then they went onto harder chores.  Like plowing.  Only they were the horses.

Then they learned how to wash clothes with a wash board.  One kid actually asked his mom if she remembered using one.  Next was onto a hay ride.  Then they helped clean the sheep and goat pens.  Once the chores were done, they made candles and played music.  After lunch, I signed Rionn out and we headed home.  He fell asleep.  I'm sure it had nothing to do with the extra long drive home because of 2 wildfires.  I'm pretty sure that all that mountain hiking was good for exercising.  Although, I didn't do chores.  I stood on the sidelines and took pictures.

Crabby Hour

So Rionn seems like the perfect child.  Well, maybe the perfect baby.  He ate.  He slept.  He never cried.  Smiled all the time.  Jet, well he has what I call crabby hour.  Or hours.  Seems like he just can't be settled from around 5pm to 8pm.  Of course that is when our house is at it's busiest.  If we're not at karate, then it's time to cook dinner, homework, etc.  So the last thing I need to do is walk Jet around outside.  Because that's the only way to get him calmed down.  So I decided instead of moving his swing in and out of the house all the time, I should get a swing.  Well they are expensive.  And well, I could make one. Pinterest is full of ideas.  So I made a swing.

But since he can't sit up and I don't want to leave him outside all lumped over, I made a bassinet swing.
I just followed the same pattern as the swing but changed it a little to make a bed.

And it works great.  He likes it enough to smile in it and sleep in it.  It might be the best baby item we have so far besides the milk defroster/food cooker/bottle sterilizer we got from a co worker of mine.

So now we're all happy.  Rionn won't go hungry.  I can get things done.  And Jet gets to be outside swinging.

In My Own Time

We've lived in this house just over 3 years.  And in that time, we have bought artwork to put on the walls.  Besides what we already had.  Now, I'm finally getting pictures on the wall.  Rionn got to help me too.  And he asked why the whole big box was mostly of him.  So I told him that is what 8 years of procrastination does.  It fills up an entire box.  But I did find my favorites.  Now to get some of Jet.