Hello to New Chapters: Part 2

We started touring preschools several weeks ago and I quickly learned I was entering a whole new territory I knew nothing about. The idea of Lyla going to Pre-K this fall has been exciting and somewhat sad, because time has passed by oh so quickly. I should clarify, she is not sad about it one bit, her mom and dad are the ones wondering where the time went. We toured several schools and eventually determined what type of atmosphere would be best for Miss Lyla. We were in the midst of finalizing our decision when Olivia mentioned an opportunity at the school where she works. Abercrombie Academy is hiring for an administrative position in their preschool office and the timing of receiving this information seemed oddly convenient. I wasn’t looking for a job, nor was I looking to put Max in school a year earlier than planned, but I decided to explore the opportunity anyway. I put a lot of trust in the natural timing that occurs in life.

The first thing we did was tour the preschool to determine if it would be a good fit. It turns out it is exactly what we had been looking for and it put all of the other tours to shame. We loved it. Then it came time to decide if enrolling Max in school would be a good decision, especially since it goes completely against my mindset when it comes to schooling. I am a stay at home mom, which is a huge blessing in itself and a big reason why we moved to Texas in the first place. I had zero intentions of putting a three year old in school. And I still stand firmly on the opinion that preschool is not necessary to raise a happy, healthy, smart child.

I never attended preschool and I'm normalish. I don't know if it's a difference of social norms in this area or just a generational thing, but there is a lot of pressure to put children in school at three or even two years old. I've been on the receiving end of the look of death when I start chatting with a mom at the park and she learns neither of my kids are in school. I always respond in my best duh tone, "No, my kids are not in school because they are two and four years old." There is no crime in not sending kids to school until Kindergarten, but a lot of parents feel differently on this subject. I did not allow this pressure to contribute to any decision because I think it’s stupid. I just wanted to make blog readers aware of the pressure that exists in case you have been out of the parenting business for a while.

After much research, counsel from family and friends, and pure instinct I decided this would be a good decision for our family. It was a bit of an emotional struggle for me to come to the realization that Maxwell going to school will have more of a positive impact than any negative one I had imagined. As much as Maxwell will be learning at his new school, he will perceive it as nothing more than having fun. It is completely play based and I think that’s important. It is only four hours per day. And definitely not a rigorous schedule of academics, which I had originally envisioned.

I know Maxwell is going to love it. He will thrive in an environment where he can make new friends, have independent experiences, and probably have more fun than he would with me all day. It was a tough pill to swallow when I asked him directly if he would prefer special “Mommy and Max time” or go to school like Lyla. He, of course, replied that he wants to go to school just like Lyla. And even though he is only two years old, we try to consider his desires as much as possible.

I applied for the position and as of August, I will be working part time and both kiddos will start school. It will be such a blessing to be on location while my kids are attending school. I will work the same hours as school is in session, so we will never be burdened with the conflict of coordinating schedules for transportation or holidays. And I get to attend all the fun activities they have going on throughout the year. The world is a scary place and in some ways this is giving me a sense of safety that I feared I would lack in sending my kids to public school. It seems almost too good to be true. We are so grateful for this unexpected opportunity and excited to see what the future brings. If all goes well, Lyla and Max could potentially attend through 5^th grade. Time will tell. 

Hello to New Chapters: Part 1

We are looking forward to some fun this week with Kirk's parents and Cameron visiting. Lyla has not been able to contain her excitement about their arrival. I actually feel bad that she can recognize her Grandma Julie's name in my phone because her daily countdown phone call quickly transformed into an hourly update. She is super patient, like me. Ha. I think both of these kiddos enjoy showing off their skills and talents to a fresh audience. They will do anything to get that spotlight turned up as bright as possible. Lucky for them, the Idaho crowd is easy to impress. I will post more about their visit later this week.

Other than that, Life has slowed way down for us lately. I wouldn't dare to call it boring, but still nothing blog worthy, unless you want to hear me whine about Max being two some more. However, the lack of action is typically a good indicator that change is on its way. It's the calm before the storm. I'm becoming quite familiar with this cycle, as it seems to happen so often. Life experience is funny like that. 

And just as change would have it, we were given the option this month to renew our lease, but after weighing our options we decided it was in our best interest to move. It turns out there is an abundance of availability on the housing market, so that made the decision even easier. We found the most charming home in a lovely neighborhood, located only a short drive from Kirk's second home --- aka 1488 Collision. He is most definitely looking forward to the shorter commute as well as avoiding the freeway traffic. 

We have made some wonderful memories over the past three years in our current home. It was the beginning of feeling settled in Texas and it's the place Max came home to from the hospital. We have all grown and changed a lot here. And it makes me feel a little sad when I think about how I always had this vision of my kids growing up in the same house their entire childhood and returning to the same house with their own families as adults. But it's just not the life we have created for our family and I'm continually learning that is okay. We can pack up our memories with us and make any place feel like home. The roots will keep growing as long as we are together. That got cheesy real quick, but hey, it's how I feel. 

This will be our first move together as an entire family and I'm really enjoying sharing my anticipation with the kids. They were a bit apprehensive about the idea of moving at first, but once they understood we would bring all most of their toys and treasured belongings to the new house, they were totally on board. I've been driving by the new house almost every single day and Kirk is very displeased that I've exposed our exceedingly receptive children to my creepy behavior. I told him it's only creepy if I slow down as we pass the house, but I maintain my speed like a normal person. Apparently that's still creepy.

We still have a full month before the move, so I haven't gone total packing mode just yet. I have been scanning the house in attempt to devise a packing game plan and I'm beginning to wonder if moving is a smart choice for my sanity. And then I wonder how we ever acquired so much crap? This thought has inspired what I consider phase one of moving, which consists of getting rid of all the junk we don't need to bring to the new house. The cleansing process is seriously satisfying. Bye junk!

It's all very exciting, April will be a busy month for us. 

Rain, Rain, Go Away

What a rainy week! Texas is the only place I've lived where a thunderstorm can last several days in a row. Hint: The only other place I've lived is Idaho. I love an intense thunderstorm, but it just begins to feel odd when it continues day after day. The constant rain meant all of our typical outdoor activities were put on stand by, which left us to entertain ourselves inside all day long. And that can get a little torturous, for us at least. We did our best and conquered through the week with a few activities including a bunny craft, cupcake extravaganza, lots of coloring, and an embarrassing amount of TV. I had a sudden itch for some spring cleaning and was happy to accomplish a bedroom cleanse for both Lyla & Max. Anytime I clear out old or unwanted items from their rooms, especially clothes, I always think "I swear I just did this..." It seems to be a necessity with each changing season. They grow too fast.

I am looking forward to the time change this weekend, giving us one extra hour of day light and hopefully the return of some sunshine! 

Lyla can read now, or at least Max thinks so.

Max made a bunny too, but somehow didn't make it into any photo. 

I guess we know who the favorite was that day....

Max being the teacher's helper at gymnastics! 

Eating cake batter is the ultimate sin, yes I know.

Max: Menace Diaries

Max. Max. Max. This little dude has been giving me a run for my money lately. I think we are finally nearing the end of a potty training regression, so that's a plus. I'm happy to be back on a once a week rotation for washing our bedding, three times a week was getting to be a little ridiculous. I have to laugh because we have both adapted to each others behaviors -- while I've learned certain fidgety movements are a sure sign Max's bladder is about to explode, he has learned that's also about the time I'm going to call him out. It seems right as we make eye contact, he says "no pee Mom, me just jumping." And then he continues to hop around awkwardly, like that is a normal thing to do. 

That's easy stuff compared to the fierce attitude he has unleashed lately. There are several times throughout the day when he simply cannot handle his emotions and explodes with such anger. This happens when he wants to do something all by himself, but is unable. This happens if I refuse to let him eat candy for breakfast. This happens if someone has something he wants. This happens if his cereal gets soggy. This happens if I forget to hold his hand down the stairs. This happens if I arrange the pillows wrong on his bed. This happens if I choose the wrong underwear, for him or myself. This happens if I put too many ice cubes in his drink. This happens if I walk too fast. This happens if I walk too slow. This happens when he deliberately disobeys. I could go on...but I think you get the idea. Clearly this has been happening a lot. The poor dude is like a light switch.

If it gets real ugly and I've exhausted all other options, I just sit next to him and start repeating the words "peace and calmness" out loud like a hopeless idiot --- it either works and he actually calms down or it just makes him more infuriated. I like to ask him if he feels misunderstood because as he replies with "yes" through the somewhat forced sobbing, it creates a slightly adorable moment within the chaos. We tend to hug it out a lot. 

I've found myself watching him in his sleep more frequently to enjoy him in a peaceful state. Definitely not to remind myself that giving him away is not an option. Lyla has also learned the art of compromise when it comes to her little brother. I've noticed within their own interactions she will sometimes give in just to avoid a fight, especially if she can sense his temperature rising. I think she can agree that remaining consistent [all.day.long] can be so exhausting. We pick our battles these days.

This will pass, just as it always does. I think I'm just a little taken back this round because 1. Max is typically easy going and maybe I foolishly thought he could never possibly be a victim of twoberty/threenager syndrome and 2. Lyla had already defeated her super dramatic stint by this age. But again, I must remind myself, their development timeline will vary because they are two different people. I don't know why I even bother comparing parenting round one to round two, it's rarely helpful. Max is two years old, experiencing and learning just as he's meant to... but if he could go ahead and wrap up this unpleasant phase, that would be swell. 

In reality, there could be worse things to groan about. These complaints are minimal. I am immensely grateful for two healthy children who keep me busy and keep my heart full. I'm a very blessed Momma. Life is good.

Photo Reel Vol. 23

Daddy-Daughter Date

We were having lunch at Chic-fil-A last week as we noticed an employee walking around the dining area informing any dad-type figure of an upcoming 'daddy daughter date' event. This happened on a weekday afternoon and we were not accompanied by Kirk, so I guess our dad-less table made us unapproachable or something. However, that did not stop Lyla from overhearing the lady spreading the news about this date night business. I was a little surprised when Lyla took the inititive to stop the employee as she passed our table to ask her what exactly she was talking about. Lyla's face lit up as she explained in detail a very elegant evening for dads and their daughters, including tables covered in white linens, decorated with flowers, and lit by candlelight. 

Lyla informed Kirk about the event at her first opportunity to do so. Although Kirk was as excited about a date at Chic-fil-A as you could imagine, he still accepted her invite...because how could he not? I think he was secretly hoping she might forget all about it by the time the day actually arrived, but this girl seriously does not forget anything. I repeat, anything. Sometimes she will bring up an event that happened before she even turned two or details of a blurry memory I can only vaguely remember. I usually just stare at her intensely for a few seconds whenever this happens because I'm pretty sure she is really some sort of mutant super human with a rare memory ability. Then I realize I'm probably nuts when I start asking questions about what it's like inside my womb. Okay, off track, anyway...

The date night arrived and Lyla was on cloud nine before it even began. We got her all fancied up and she patiently waited until it was time to leave. I insisted on a photo-shoot, which was fine because my family has gotten pretty accustomed to me forcing them into photos. I can't say I'm sorry about that...because I'm not. I don't even have to bribe them anymore. Kirk and Lyla departed for their date and I could tell Max was feeling left out. He will be okay though. I gave him lots of love and it's his turn for a special date next time.

They returned home and I was surprised to learn they went to BJ's restaurant instead of Chic-fil-A, especially considering how excited Lyla was about going to Chic-fil-A. Kirk swears it was all Lyla's idea and she pleaded to go there instead after they started driving. I might believe that, only because I know Lyla is super fascinated by the revolving door and is a big fan of their root beer. I'm still skeptical of how exactly that change of plans went down though. Regardless, it was a lovely evening for the daddy-daughter duo. Lyla requested to go to TjMaxx after dinner [smart move] and Kirk claims she was very hilarious as she led him all around the clothing section. She came home with some new Nike shorts and a surprise gift for her little brother. It was very sweet of her to think of him during her date.

I had to laugh when I noticed this unfamiliar attitude about her when she arrived home. It wasn't a sassy attitude, more of an attitude of confidence. I'm not exactly sure the best way to explain it, but she definitely had a little pep in her step. I mentioned it to Kirk and he said she was acting the same way all throughout their date. I think she was feeling very pleased knowing she had daddy all to herself for the evening. 

They have gone on little dates together before, but I think all the anticipation leading up to this one is what made it so special for Lyla. It's an occurrence that will most definitely happen more often.

PS >>> Lyla is looking so grown up lately. I can't handle it. 

Kirk asked me to point out that he is not going for the hipster-dad look with the collar buttoned to the top. It was meant to be a joke, but then he forgot about it. Hahaha

Growing Up

As we were driving around recently, I found myself contemplating all the reasons why being an adult is so stressful at times. I started to wonder why I ever wished to grow up in the first place. I honestly can't even remember what was so appealing about it at the time, but I assume it was just the perception as a child that grown ups get to do whatever they want. I was too naive back then to even realize stress existed. That's the beauty when it comes to childhood, sometimes ignorance truly is bliss. With this in mind, I decided to ask my four year old for some insight as to why children want to grow up so badly. In her own words, her three definite reasons for wanting to grow up are as follows: 

1. I want to take care of my own kids. 

2. I want to sit in the car without a car seat. 

3. I want to cook stuff, like chicken.

I suppose in the mind of a four year old those are some major milestones to look forward to. As simple as it may seem, I do appreciate life from her perspective. It's a reminder for me to stress less and adjust the focus of my energy to the things I easily take for granted...like cooking chicken. Hehe!

I think her desire to cook chicken probably comes from when she helps me cook. I always tell her she isn't allowed to touch raw chicken. She cannot be trusted with that type of responsibility, yet. Regardless, still a hilarious reason for wishing to be a grown up.

Max joined in on this conversation as well, but I'm still waiting for him to form his own thoughts rather than mimicking anything and everything Lyla. He will get there, someday.