tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76131132137496394262024-03-18T23:08:43.363-04:00Monkey BusinessLindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743813977479994628noreply@blogger.comBlogger417125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613113213749639426.post-33972168379293392922009-07-28T18:44:00.003-04:002009-07-28T19:35:02.969-04:00Blogging Break<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I am taking a blogging break. Just in case you haven't noticed. <br /><br />I am posting regularly over at <a href="http://www.babybunching.com ">Baby Bunching</a>, but hope to be back here when the daily load lightens a bit.</span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743813977479994628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613113213749639426.post-134966491163038052009-06-22T20:41:00.003-04:002009-06-22T20:47:34.966-04:00So Bad<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><p>I'm so bad. I have people actually coming up to me asking why I haven't updated my blog lately. Ok, here's the scoop. We moved. I have been painting and unpacking and painting some more. And even more painting. Did I mention the painting? And it's hard to do this when you're trying to entertain kids, work part-time and just be. So THIS blog has been neglected, I'm sorry to say.<br /><br />So here's the quick update.<br /><br />We just got back from the beach. I need a vacation from the vacation. It's never a vacation when you lug your kids around, right?<br /><br />My kids have already done one summer camp. I love summer camp. It really is the best thing in the world. My favorite is when they come home dirty and sweaty. Then I know it was successful. Seriously.<br /><br />Alex has started his first 'big boy' camp today. He's doing soccer camp with kids ages 5-12. As I walked him there this morning, I was sick to my stomach. Nervous that now he's mixing with big kids. Kids who tease and torment. What if they don't like the shirt he's wearing? He's not old enough to walk away. What if they make fun of him for eating his shirt? Yes, he actually chews on his shirt when he's nervous. What if he runs around and acts like he's three, which he does on occasion? I felt like the day I did starting high school. But he had a blast and held up like a trooper. Only thing was I had to go buy shin guards and cleats so he wouldn't be the only one without them. I'm such a sucker! </p></span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743813977479994628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613113213749639426.post-45730487124800945612009-05-13T07:52:00.001-04:002009-05-13T07:54:40.305-04:00Have People Gone Mad?<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><p>I'm over at DC Metro Moms today talking about our most recent trip to <a href="http://svmomblog.typepad.com/dc_metro_moms/2009/05/mean-people-not-allowed-draft.html">Meadowlark Botanical Gardens</a>.</p></span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743813977479994628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613113213749639426.post-91360204886381872009-05-12T19:58:00.002-04:002009-05-12T20:06:25.199-04:00Still alive<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><p>I am still alive. I swear. We have moved to our new house. And spent the whole first week experiencing sewage line issues. Can I just tell you how much fun that is?! Nothing says 'welcome to your new home' like poo in the shower.<br /><br />And if moving isn't enough, I started a new part time job this week which I hope will launch me into national marketing fame. I will keep you posted on that as it unfolds. Hint: It's for the Swedish children's clothing company <a href="http://www.polarnopyretusa.com/">Polarn O. Pyret</a>. Read up. Learn. And buy. </p></span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743813977479994628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613113213749639426.post-49249286590318998692009-04-24T06:53:00.004-04:002009-04-24T08:30:26.560-04:00Ask Me About Home @ School<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><p>How's Home at School going now 5 weeks later? I'm beat and if there was ever any question in my mind about ME homeschooling MY kids, I certainly got my answer. I suck at this. I'm tired. I'm out of energy and creativity. I really must find more camps for the summer.</p></span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743813977479994628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613113213749639426.post-44353379083351476882009-04-23T10:51:00.002-04:002009-04-24T06:53:05.848-04:00Kindergarten Orientation<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><p>We had kindergarten orientation this week. Did you hear me? My oldest kid starts kindergarten in the fall. Holy *&^)! As I sat in the room with all these other moms, many who looked like they too were novices of this public school game and many who were long time veterans, I just couldn't get over that I was sitting here. I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday. Sure the days, weeks, months, years have passed and much of it was a blur, but how did we get to this moment. Will I feel the same at graduation in 13 years? Thirteen years?<br /><br />Anyway, the orientation went well. I was a bit confused when they showed pictures of the teachers helping the kids to zip their jackets. Apparently this is a skill 5-year-olds usually learn in kindergarten. What? My three-year old can zip her jacket!</p><p>Oh, and don't forget the part where Alex wrote with a Crayola marker on the chalkboard. Uh huh...way to make a stellar first impression on the teacher! I guess someone had left the marker on the chalk tray and he thought that meant it was OK to color on the chalkboard. Perfect!<br /></p></span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743813977479994628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613113213749639426.post-19949491509151378362009-04-22T20:47:00.002-04:002009-04-22T22:23:19.123-04:00Rocknoceros: PINK!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIN1TTJI7X75xVQH52cj6orbUl4ASVu5NKd9V-29mKtOJxj51hIaSli0pb_hhYrOJX3w-e7Bqutxzcerx7J_hqDRHj2BVIgbmMV5BjCU9EiHaRtTOKYfGMQZZpcfxcfSiP-Emh0OUcrg/s1600-h/rocknoceros3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326968753766062802" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIN1TTJI7X75xVQH52cj6orbUl4ASVu5NKd9V-29mKtOJxj51hIaSli0pb_hhYrOJX3w-e7Bqutxzcerx7J_hqDRHj2BVIgbmMV5BjCU9EiHaRtTOKYfGMQZZpcfxcfSiP-Emh0OUcrg/s400/rocknoceros3.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> <p>We have been nothing but PINK! in our house for the past week. <a href="http://www.rocknoceros.com/">Rocknoceros</a>, one of our kids favorite bands, launched its new CD this week. Since they are from Northern Virginia, we were able to attend their CD launch party at Vienna's Jammin Java. Rock on! You really must check out the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/rocknoceros">title song</a>.<br /><br />Rocknoceros is comprised of Coach Cotton, Williebob, and Boogie Woogie Bennie. It took my son a while to warm up to these guys for whatever reason. He loves them, but every time he saw them in concert he would cry. I finally figured out why....he felt pressure to dance, apparently. Whatever, kid. My daughter loves them and was up front in her pink dress leading the crowd this past weekend. My son was finally up there rockin' out with the rest of the preschool crowd minus the tears.<br /><br />So why <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/rocknoceros">PINK</a>? At Rocknoceros’ live shows, the band always asks fans about their favorite colors, and invariably, the shouts for “Pink!” are overwhelming. So, due to popular demand (especially from their young female fans), the title track of the new CD reflects the rosy color of little pigs, bubble gum and selected flowers known as perennials.<br /><br />Our favorites on the new CD include Pink (both my kids think this song is the greatest), Always Tell Your Grandma That You Love Her and Big Wheel. (Really, how fast does a big wheel go?)<br /><br />Great job guys on the latest CD. Can't wait to catch you at the next concert!<br /></p></span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743813977479994628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613113213749639426.post-28456463185570934232009-04-21T18:34:00.000-04:002009-04-21T19:49:05.498-04:00School at Home: Week 4<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><p>Last week was Food Week for <a href="http://monkeybusinesskids.blogspot.com/2009/03/school-at-home-week-1.html">Home at School</a>. I was impressed by how much BOTH my kids learned. We checked out books on all the food groups: grains, vegetables, fruits, fats, meats and milk.<br /><br />Fortunately, it coincided with Alex starting a cooking class at a the Vienna Community Center. It's called a Fairy Tale feast where they read a story and then make the food. Love the idea!!! <br /><br />We talked about all the different types of foods and how every food fits into at least one of the categories. Then we took to the Wednesday food ads. Both kids spent at least an hour cutting up food pictures from the circulars, and we pasted them in their corresponding food category. They really thought this was a worthy project. We talked quite a bit about the food pyramid and what foods we should eats lots of and what foods we had to limit. My kids keep coming back to my husband's book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/150-Healthiest-Foods-Earth-Surprising/dp/1592332285">150 Healthiest Foods on Earth</a>." They like to go through this book and see what foods they like and which ones have a star (the super foods!) <br /><br />Alex and I took a special trip to Whole Foods to see how even the store is organized by food groups--fruits and veggies, meat, grains, etc. Bonus for us was Emeril Lagasse was filming his Planet Green series at the Fairfax Whole Foods. This launched us into a whole other discussion about TV food shows. Which then led to coming home and watching a few on the computer. Alex wanted to know why people had to watch TV to learn how to cook. Good week. Good topic.<br /><br />This week . . . Safety Week! <br /><p></span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743813977479994628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613113213749639426.post-54870986136896527032009-04-20T18:37:00.005-04:002009-04-20T20:34:05.111-04:00An Itsy Bitsy Chance to Explore<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><p>One of my first introductions into a more international children's world began during a playgroup in Qatar. The kids played for a while with random toys, and then the moms gathered around in a circle to sing familiar children's songs. I was familiar with most of the songs until I got to "The Itsy Bitsy Spider." Except I was in a room full of British moms who sang the song "Incy Wincy Spider." Most of the lyrics are the same, but a few of the words stray and suddenly my eyes had been opened to the possibility of things outside the American world.<br /><br />Fast forward a year, and we had found ourselves in Sweden. Again, "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" made his appearance at a Swedish/English playground this time as "Imse Vimse Spindel." The tune varied a little and the words in were, of course, in Swedish. Quite frankly, this is my FAVORITE version of The Itsy Bitsy Spider. Never has a spider climbing up a water spout sounded so adorable and whimsical.<br /><br />My children's exposure to another language was brief. My son attended four months of Swedish preschool and within 6 weeks he was speaking and understanding it. He was 2 1/2 years old. We were singing all the favorites in Swedish (Row Row your Boat, Ba Ba Black Sheep, Little Cabin in the Wood). I am reminded by a good friend, who is Austrian and a master of languages, how spongelike little young brains are for soaking up other languages. She mentioned something like until the age of 7 children have this natural ability to understand and separate languages. I have no idea how scientific that data is, but I did have a few other foreign language teachers back up that statement.<br /><br />Which brings me to the point of this post. Two of my friends are extending their current preschool to a a bilingual one: <a href="http://www.thetinyexplorers.com/Home_Page.php">Tiny Explorers</a>. The best part is it's for kids 18 months to three years. This is doubly as awesome because it's near impossible to even find part-time preschool for kids under the age of two let alone a bilingual one. Do I think my son's four-month exposure to a foreign language helped develop his brain at age 2? Yep! I know that being exposed to a foreign language at any age, especially a young one, helps develop and exercise the brain in a completely different way. So yes, it does make your kid smarter.<br /><br />Tiny Explorers is having an open house next week so if you live in the Northern Virginia (Reston) area and are looking for a school or are even curious about the bilingual factor (which I wholeheartedly applaud), please stop by next week and visit.<br /></p></span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743813977479994628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613113213749639426.post-41745509354111792632009-04-13T14:16:00.008-04:002009-04-13T15:59:50.076-04:00School at Home: Week 3<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwD6Te0ZvLf14Ezgx_DiCdwdAJuxZT-fQMUMuUaKeDfQyJjCu6SEHtUSOi3i3A16o0eBQNXEKwaqgvXPnSm7Kio1h0Zhfm9NQVutsi4KS7RF6Q_blvN228sAPHkYvkXhCNbQyWgsFTsbs/s1600-h/easter+kids.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324267111317660370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwD6Te0ZvLf14Ezgx_DiCdwdAJuxZT-fQMUMuUaKeDfQyJjCu6SEHtUSOi3i3A16o0eBQNXEKwaqgvXPnSm7Kio1h0Zhfm9NQVutsi4KS7RF6Q_blvN228sAPHkYvkXhCNbQyWgsFTsbs/s400/easter+kids.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><p>Even though it was spring break this past week, I felt it necessary to do continue with 'home at school' but with an Easter theme. Our week began with an Easter egg hunt with my DC area mom's group. I hadn't planned on going with our busy weekend, but the weather moved the hunt to a better day, and we made a last-minute decision to attend. We are SO glad we did.<br /><br />I made sure to get over to the library and check out several books on Easter--one about Easter in Sweden (of course), one about an Easter egg tree, a few about bunnies, a few religious ones and even one about Passover (since my grandfather is Jewish and I wanted to give them the basics of a Seder meal.)<br /><br />Thank God for the <a href="http://www.enchantedlearning.com/Home.html">Enchanted Learning</a> site which gave me a few worksheets, coloring pages and counting/math activities with Easter-related things included. We finished out the week by coloring eggs, decorating our own Easter tree and baking our traditional Easter bread. So all in all....another good week. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">This week, we're moving on to food, nutrition and the food groups. </p></span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743813977479994628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613113213749639426.post-54144891262447172012009-04-13T14:11:00.003-04:002009-04-13T14:16:03.301-04:00Hanna-Me-Downs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgka6uAZXkOkVlHS_bvGCOjuoGzfECb275Mcvyu2v_Y2O_M5OkYgpIGgXO7Yf5cS66zc1ZqpzsDZxA9lPEz2G6J0fcG0topkq2uW11jc9sz5XRMP7bzGx5U5pttWic5AHVZjTYF_YytfU/s1600-h/hanna.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324241150679428354" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 138px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgka6uAZXkOkVlHS_bvGCOjuoGzfECb275Mcvyu2v_Y2O_M5OkYgpIGgXO7Yf5cS66zc1ZqpzsDZxA9lPEz2G6J0fcG0topkq2uW11jc9sz5XRMP7bzGx5U5pttWic5AHVZjTYF_YytfU/s200/hanna.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><p>I can't pass up a good deal. And this one I love. For the next week (April 13-26), if you bring in your gently used Hanna Andersson clothes, they will donate them to the United Way and you can save 20% your purchase. As you know, I love Hanna Andersson clothes. They wear wonderfully, wash perfectly and WAY outlast my kids. The PJs really are worth the money. So I'm glad to see they will put my outgrown clothes to good use and give me a little discount. Love it!</p></span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743813977479994628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613113213749639426.post-54955128842186041192009-04-08T20:01:00.002-04:002009-04-08T20:08:50.555-04:00School at Home: Week 2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5np-xbVdHOize2uecJgn13K47YiQ-wVhyKfmsKIj36mygdyGbicFUGX1SReTlmo5mrrhxBoy4CZnmpcVhizAE4RD6eg64FACC-_Gby2nXr-lE40NWWm10Npzhf7qtENqTvH2fIFgMic/s1600-h/house,+homeschool,+stuff+061.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322476822905947314" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5np-xbVdHOize2uecJgn13K47YiQ-wVhyKfmsKIj36mygdyGbicFUGX1SReTlmo5mrrhxBoy4CZnmpcVhizAE4RD6eg64FACC-_Gby2nXr-lE40NWWm10Npzhf7qtENqTvH2fIFgMic/s200/house,+homeschool,+stuff+061.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><p>Yes, we're still alive around here. Sorry that things have been quiet. School at home + moving + spring break + regular daily chores has kept us busy. We had another successful week, but I was relieved to see Friday....if that tells you anything.<br /><br />Last week's school topic was spring. We had several books from the library on spring (flowers, trees, etc.). As part of the weekly lesson, we took several nature walks including one of <a href="http://www.nvrpa.org/parks/meadowlark/">Meadowlark Gardens </a>in Vienna (right down the street from our new house!) It is Cherry Blossom time here in DC and nothing can be prettier than pink and white blossoms.<br /><br />Both Alex and Anna put together a spring book about the seeds and the frog life cycle. And on Tuesday last week--as I was digging up my garden--we found a frog. I took the opportunity to do a quick "frog lesson" before we walked the little guy down to the creek. We named him Eric.<br /><br />We finished out the week with planting a few plants in our garden. Yes, yes, I know....but it's the week before spring break so it was hard to do 'real' school. </p></span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743813977479994628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613113213749639426.post-27741286839581038172009-04-01T15:55:00.002-04:002009-04-01T15:56:06.408-04:00The Wheels on the Bus<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><p>I'm over at <a href="http://svmomblog.typepad.com/dc_metro_moms/2009/04/the-wheels-on-the-bus.html">DC Metro Moms </a>today ranting about my hatred for the bus. Come on over and leave your two cents about how crazy I am!</p></span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743813977479994628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613113213749639426.post-3909089806944428642009-03-31T13:26:00.005-04:002009-03-31T13:41:50.459-04:00School at Home: Week 1<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZSAU3uRYDjXizG3YbQfJhZyPBq4JpFyMFdqZaH7kOB1AycjHjdxHSccjzqVp8Du8t70ruOeP5FiukPm060ty-6tEn8ZBaeTfk4SyR35AX62ZKxl24IyJkOnw8FQMGX3eAQpe8Jy4YeI/s1600-h/house,+homeschool,+stuff+004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319407268304633314" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZSAU3uRYDjXizG3YbQfJhZyPBq4JpFyMFdqZaH7kOB1AycjHjdxHSccjzqVp8Du8t70ruOeP5FiukPm060ty-6tEn8ZBaeTfk4SyR35AX62ZKxl24IyJkOnw8FQMGX3eAQpe8Jy4YeI/s200/house,+homeschool,+stuff+004.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><p>We completed our first week of what I'm calling "School at Home" with Alex. I can't bring myself to call it "homeschooling" so this feels better for me. I figured if I documented it all here then I have to actually follow through. Here was our week in summary:<br /><br />It was Space Week. We started by checking out many, many books at the library on space and planets. We read all of them and talked about the planets and rockets. A few of the books I checked out were super easy ones that I thought he could read, and he did!<br /><br />We worked on identifying "space words" like: space, rocket, planet, star, moon, etc. Alex asked to do an estimating project one day so I counted this as our math lesson for the day. We used star, moon and heart stickers and practiced estimating how many were in each bag. Anna played too.<br /><br />Our big project was making a solar system. We spent most of the morning painting and putting it together. (See picture). Alex LOVED this. I was surprised in a matter of hours how quickly he'd learned the order of the planets and was ready to recite it to anyone.<br /><br />We read about the first lunar landing and then watched some of a DVD from Netflix with footage. He couldn't believe that it was actually real and he was able to see it. Thursday we took a trip downtown to the Air and Space Museum and that was just a wonderful trip for us. I couldn't believe how much information he had retained during just three days.<br /><br />The real kicker was I let him round out the week on Sunday by watching Star Wars--a movie he's been begging to watch once he turned five. I figured with his birthday on Saturday it was nice way to end the week and celebrate.<br /><br />This week is Spring Week. So far so good! Lots of fun thigns planned. </p></span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743813977479994628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613113213749639426.post-69082678297401841122009-03-24T11:16:00.002-04:002009-03-24T11:23:20.856-04:00Stress<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><p>Our household is filled with stress these days. The only good thing helping with this is our house has been decluttered and all our CRAP is in POD somewhere in Loudon County. So the upside to everything is our house is clean! (Ok, minus the basement which is now filled with piles of paperwork for the house.)<br /><br />Here's the update. The owners of the house accepted our offer so in about a month we should be moving into our new home in Vienna! I'm super excited.<br /><br />Now we have to rent our house....quickly. I guess that's not as stressful as selling, but still it means getting it rented to someone who will take care of our investment.<br /><br />The most stressful thing has been preschool. I have decided to pull Alex out of school after the bead incident. I feel it's best for him since I have doubts about the current situation there. I'm keeping Anna in because I totally love her teachers. While in my mind I know keeping him out of school for the eight remaining weeks is really the best thing, and I do believe I'm making the best decision, it is inconvenient for me. It means I will have to find constructive things for he and I to do together and get a little "homeschooling" in while he's out of school. He's already more than ready for kindergarten (yesterday he read his first book!) but it means me readjusting my expectations for the days ahead. The move makes this even more difficult. </p></span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743813977479994628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613113213749639426.post-3310377595002793862009-03-21T21:29:00.003-04:002009-03-21T21:49:56.895-04:00Bead up his nose?<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><p>The phone rang and the caller ID showed the school calling. Crap. I panicked immediately. The last time I saw this number Alex broke his finger and we endured three weeks of a cast.<br /><br />I picked up the phone. “Hi Linda. It’s[the director] from preschool.” I’m trying to make niceties and then I hear it. The crying in the background. “Alex has a beam up his nose.” A what? A what?” A beam. Is that like a beam up his nose and into his brain. OMG. I freak out like I never have before. “What do you mean he has a beam up his nose? How did that happen?”<br /><br />She responds, “They were playing with beams and one went up, and we can’t get it out.” I stop. Wait a minute. Did she say bean? Bean. OK, bean up the nose is more realistic. Don’t panic. Hang up and drive. Call doctor on the way and explain situation and ask what’s the best course of action. Fifteen minutes? Yes, we can do that. Drive.<br /><br />Fortunately, we had just finished looking at a house (which we actually put an offer on today) and hubby was with me, and my parents were in the car behind. We pulled up at school, and I darted. Outside my boy was sitting on the pavement with all the other kids for car line sobbing. I grabbed him and got the 5- second scoop and took off to the doctors. Admittedly, I panicked and probably overreacted. But this was the <a href="http://monkeybusinesskids.blogspot.com/2009/02/broken-bone-broken-spirit.html">second incident </a>in a month.<br /><br />We raced to the doctor’s office and once my husband got him settled, he managed to get him to blow out the bead.<br /><br />I’m considering pulling him from school . . . </p></span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743813977479994628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613113213749639426.post-61415371364004496282009-03-09T21:47:00.004-04:002009-03-09T21:52:51.067-04:00Apparently, I'm Crazy<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><p>So things have picked up in our household lately . . . the no blogging is the result. Trip to Dallas to see the grandparents. Who knew when I planned this a time change was involved. Down with Daylight Savings Time in March! Today I'm preparing for a job interview and a move. I did manage to get it together enough to go out and buy a suit while in Dallas for the potential interview (which is now this week). And if that's not stressful enough, we're packing up all our excess crap (OK, that's a lot) and moving it into storage since we're listing our house next week. Yikes!<br /><br />Did I mention we're busy? </p></span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743813977479994628noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613113213749639426.post-20212218279056144032009-03-03T09:04:00.000-05:002009-03-03T09:04:00.384-05:00How Did I Do This Everyday?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbveFhK9Mcqx_XZP3JBzedhf_gHJTcO1J6Qb-QIzbm99gZusw1wEGwpH5DJlub5Q09IoNs9yG7xurPNv-cioVbHsk8U-ujsvt3gbUvcG7iBqgV1Fjzz1dVyLYj27jnmeWo6wEfkaCvwlA/s1600-h/DSC_0217.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308777085460148466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbveFhK9Mcqx_XZP3JBzedhf_gHJTcO1J6Qb-QIzbm99gZusw1wEGwpH5DJlub5Q09IoNs9yG7xurPNv-cioVbHsk8U-ujsvt3gbUvcG7iBqgV1Fjzz1dVyLYj27jnmeWo6wEfkaCvwlA/s200/DSC_0217.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3h4gzaPZSXj6FMo25os__vZVL3xuyyxmSErfZr7hJVixHfigpIlo6n3FhQl-LwtaMWuDe0J9JGX4eZcoBZZ6J3axw1AG0zQowZ_ApC1PcRaRFvhmE6HuKDGCs2R-nExCKpdY9ZKezJ4s/s1600-h/DSC_0224.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308777149116274498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3h4gzaPZSXj6FMo25os__vZVL3xuyyxmSErfZr7hJVixHfigpIlo6n3FhQl-LwtaMWuDe0J9JGX4eZcoBZZ6J3axw1AG0zQowZ_ApC1PcRaRFvhmE6HuKDGCs2R-nExCKpdY9ZKezJ4s/s200/DSC_0224.JPG" border="0" /></a></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><p>I will talk about my days in Sweden—as brief as it was—until <em>your</em> eyes gloss over and <em>mine</em> fill with tears. Yes, I really loved it that much! And while the summer and spring were amazing the winter we spent there was one of the worst--four months of snow-covered ground. I shoveled and scraped regularly. Everyone was outfitted in snow boots, snow suits, hats and mittens most of the day, everyday.<br /><br />Yesterday morning we welcomed 6-8 inches of beautiful snow. I mean the most spectacular kind of snow only Mother Nature can create. Beautiful. I love snow. There is nothing more perfect than walking outside on snowy day when the snow is still falling—because only those who truly love the snow come out then—and listening to the quiet. For me this is the perfect kind of quiet. It’s even better than the kids-just-went-to-bed quiet.<br /><br />I won’t get into the whole nonsense of my kids today who I TRIED to make appreciate my love of the snow. Alex just eats it, and Anna only whines about how cold it is. At least I have one cold weather enthusiast. Snow days for me (real snow days that is) are like Christmas. I brought out all our old Swedish gear—snow suits, boots, sleds, hats, mittens, snowball maker. Ok, well only a few of these are actually from Sweden, but living there made me appreciate having all the appropriate gear. Everything came out of the closets, bins and drawers, and I set to work dressing both kids. It’s like dad taking his son to a baseball game or mom showing her daughter the museum. This was my moment to show my kids how much I love this miracle.<br /><br />Whine. Cry. Fuss. Moan. Groan.<br /><br />No one wanted to be part of my game this morning, except me. But I worked to outfit both kids in everything they need. We shimmied on his snowsuit and then hers, pushed on the boots, pushed some more, stuck on hats, wriggled on mittens and made our way outside. Every time out someone had some kind of an issue—water, pee, hurting finger, cold hands, wet gloves. Something. We came back in, de-suited and re-suited.<br /><br />As I’m getting Anna into her snowsuit—the same one Alex wore in Sweden—I couldn’t help wonder how I managed this regime everyday. Every time we left the house for school, the store, play, playdate everything went on and then we came home everything came off again. Then it was washed and dried because sure enough we’d need it again really soon. My foyer was always a giant pool of water and my car always smelled a bit like stale water. </p><p>The only thing I could think of was that we do what we have to in order to survive the situation. Four months of snow meant four months of snow gear. And even that left me still loving the snow. Today, however, not so much. I think I liked it better when no one had an opinion about the cold. At least I grabbed a few minutes for myself to enjoy it all. Good snow like this doesn't come this way often. </p></span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743813977479994628noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613113213749639426.post-65089261020024042212009-03-02T17:27:00.003-05:002009-03-02T17:28:45.430-05:00Really? More School Issues<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><p>Are you tired of me talking about schools yet? I'm over at <a href="http://svmomblog.typepad.com/dc_metro_moms/2009/03/what-is-kindergarten-draft.html">DC Metro Moms </a>talking about it some more. Should I really be this concerned? </p></span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743813977479994628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613113213749639426.post-88867349063229618122009-02-28T20:15:00.003-05:002009-02-28T20:18:54.511-05:00It’s Spring Fever Here<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><p>Not that kind of spring fever. I wish! (They were predicting snow today.)The kind of spring fever our household (ok, just me and hubby) get when we’ve decided we’re ready for a new house. Every year somewhere between February and May we get a move itch. The only thing I can guess is that it has something to do with us never living in ANY place longer than two years. We have now, officially, been in this house two and a half years. Why the desire to move, you might ask?<br /><br />Don’t get me wrong. I love our neighborhood. Townhouse living can be hard if you’ve just spent several years in a single family home, but we love the neighbors, the great pool and wonderful playgrounds. We can walk to the store and even to the kids’ elementary school. But the house is small and we’re lacking a yard. We’d like a dog and . . . maybe another child. That just doesn’t add up in our small house. The kitchen is by far the smallest kitchen you’ll ever see. Did I mention my husband's nightmarish commute. I digress.<br /><br />So it’s the end of February and the beginning of the home sale season thus the beginning of <em>our </em>spring fever. What has kept us here for the past few years is the high home prices. The DC area wasn’t affected by the dropping housing prices until just recently. This is good news for us since it means we may be able to afford the home we want, in the area we want. But those who know us well, know we do this every spring. We hit the open houses, take a bunch tours, do some number crunching and end up staying put.<br /><br />I have no idea what is in store for us this spring. As much as I hate the idea of selling (because it’s A LOT of work to sell a home with kids in it), I think our whole family is ready for a change. We’re a bit of a nomadic family. In nine years of marriage, we’ve had six addresses. My only way to prune junk is by moving. And we’ve apparently hit our limit on what we can store here. I literally have bikes and wagons in my dining room. </p></span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743813977479994628noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613113213749639426.post-61320776028528811072009-02-25T19:48:00.003-05:002009-02-25T19:54:41.198-05:00No Glass of Wine?<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><p>I was sad to read the <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101155801">news in this morning's paper </a>saying there is no safe amount of wine for women to drink. Do I believe it? (I ask as I sip my Merlot.) What's a mom to think? Are there more factors to consider? <br /><br />I exercise regularly (about 5 times a week) and eat healthy (no preservatives, here). But I am probably at high risk for cancer because of my mom, my dad and my grandfather. I don't smoke or have any other vices other than this one guilty little pleasure in the evening. So what am I to think of this news? Next thing you know they'll be saying coffee is bad for me too. That is when my world will really end! </p></span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743813977479994628noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613113213749639426.post-51907729683545254562009-02-25T07:48:00.006-05:002009-02-25T08:05:58.658-05:00The Cast Came Off<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhUEW3I4466YVriY6JfSvIAjUgQsNHJsgm332ErvFzKue1oKGCu_NvHtvCnGmBl2YQEL28BdxNsxulOzO1-QmTbbVM_vGMJ5R7sB3qtcDgUbroYenpu-96ETFZlg2zkODlKzcf2DoTXo/s1600-h/030.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306718569245313522" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhUEW3I4466YVriY6JfSvIAjUgQsNHJsgm332ErvFzKue1oKGCu_NvHtvCnGmBl2YQEL28BdxNsxulOzO1-QmTbbVM_vGMJ5R7sB3qtcDgUbroYenpu-96ETFZlg2zkODlKzcf2DoTXo/s200/030.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><p>It was a long three weeks with <a href="http://monkeybusinesskids.blogspot.com/2009/02/broken-bone-broken-spirit.html">the cast</a>. I learned a lot about Alex during this time. His self disclipline is a amazing. We had only one incident of the cast getting a bit wet. He, for the most part, kept it out of the sand and mulch and followed the "rules" of the cast. He learned to ride his scooter with one hand + 2 fingers. He learned to cope and deal the best he could with nary a complaint about his temporary "disability."<br /><br />And when he woke up yesterday morning, even before the cast came off, he was a completely different boy. He confessed that he hadn't been sleeping very well. Which in turn was probably accounting for the massive change in behavior the past three weeks. Funny how I hadn't put two and two together.<br /><br />He was a brave little boy as they sawed off the cast. He explained to Anna it would be really noisy but it wouldn't hurt. How did he know? But he was fantastic. I do have to give major props to <a href="http://www.c-o-r.com/">Commonwealth Orthopaedics </a>for their attention to children's special needs. The X-ray lady was ready this time with a basket of lollipops.<br /><br />The first thing we did when we got home was take a very long bath. So now he's free from the nasty smelling cast and we're off to celebrate with a party this afternoon. He wanted balloons with casts on them, but I drew the line at that one.</p></span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743813977479994628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613113213749639426.post-9596065624973101872009-02-24T08:10:00.002-05:002009-02-25T20:30:24.667-05:00Them Against Me<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><p>Check out my kids' latest doings over at <a href="http://www.babybunching.com/baby_bunching/2009/02/my-bunch-them-against-me.html">Baby Bunching</a>. They are slowly learning to form some kind of allied force against me--smart kids. I'm pretty sure that's why I have siblings and we go on to give our children siblings.</p></span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743813977479994628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613113213749639426.post-54535400523460689522009-02-19T10:11:00.004-05:002009-02-19T10:16:00.058-05:00Baby Bunching Makes the News<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><p>It has been a very good week for <a href="http://www.babybunching.com/">Baby Bunching</a>. But last night I received an email from a friend telling me my <a href="http://www.washingtonparent.com/articles/0902/bunching.php"><em>Washington Parent </em></a>article ran on the afternoon news (NBC affiliate)--with promos leading up to it. I'm still working to get the footage because this is HUGE for us. If anyone saw it or can send it to me, please do! I am so excited.</p></span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743813977479994628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613113213749639426.post-77444666496981022062009-02-17T19:35:00.002-05:002009-02-17T19:37:26.113-05:00Baby Bunching: Juggling Two Under Two<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><p>My second article was published in <em><a href="http://www.washingtonparent.com/articles/0902/bunching.php">Washington Parent </a></em>magazine this month. Yes, of course, it's about <a href="http://www.babybunching.com">Baby Bunching</a>. Check me out. Oh, and they just asked me to write another article for them. Woo hoo! </p></span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743813977479994628noreply@blogger.com5