On the way to NJ . . .

We ventured out of state twice in one week, early in July. Thankfully the Salad does well in the car. R and I have chosen not to have a DVD player in the swagger wagon, so I have gotten good at tossing food, books, magna doodles, and cups into the back seats.

On Wednesday, playgroup traveled to the Garden State Discovery Museum. I think we've been spoiled by the Please Touch Museum. This one was 16 years old and the exhibits were well loved. It had the typical exhibits - doctor's office, supermarket, construction site - but it did have a few new sights to see. Namely, a giant light bright and a sporting section. We played basketball, soccer, golf and hockey. S loved every second of it.
We lunched, dressed up like ballerinas and danced on stage for a while, then got under way just as the heavens opened up. It rained so hard, I could barely see out of the windows, but was already on the highway, so we just had to keep on keeping on. We got home safely after 90 minutes on the road. Thankfully the Salad was in a good mood and talked of poop and how they are not allowed to watch Yo Gabba Gabba and that they love yogurt almost the whole way home. I asked each one, what their favorite part of the day had been and without a moment's thought, M said "You, mommy." Be still, my heart.
Thursday, we packed up and headed to the ocean for the day. As a special treat, we met up with the Salad's cousins. We got to the beach just in time for lunch. Once our bellies were full of PB&Js and strawberries, we hit the sand running and didn't stop for hours. We had a great day of discovery, finding shells and tiny crabs. M was so excited when I said we could bring his little crab home that he found. "Oh my goodness!" he shouted.

We showered off at Aunt Nicole's house and then the 5 of us (Gram included) headed to the boardwalk. After a yummy dinner, helicopters, motorcycles, trains and roller coasters were ridden. I have to tussle S's hair to help her reach the height limit to ride alone. She's always been a peanut. Anyway, we picked up funnel cake and Johnson's popcorn for daddy, changed into our jammies and were asleep before we got out of Ocean City. Let me rephrase that - the Salad was asleep - I had to drive, so I stayed awake almost the whole ride home.

I jest, I jest - I stayed awake the whole ride home!

An imaginary "Take that, lady!"

We stopped in Starbucks yesterday and M asked if he could come in with me. He had asked sweetly and been obliging all morning, so I acquiesced, although it brought protests from the girls.

The line was 5 people deep and as soon as we took our place, M started with "I want to go back to the car." Over and over and over. I stayed calm, told him I knew he wanted to go back, but that wasn't happening until we had gotten our coffee. But he kept going, not screaming, not crying, just being a persistent 3 year old about going back to the car.

And then it happened. The woman in front of us, covered her ears, and kept them covered. An adult woman, plugged her fingers into her ears, so that she couldn't hear my son. I scooped him up, not to stop the whining, but because I suddenly felt protective. She ordered her drinks and went to sit at a table with her friend. I ordered my drinks and while they were being made, walked M out to the car and told R I'd be right back. My hands were shaking as I put sugar in R's iced coffee. I walked calmly up to the woman, bent down, and asked for her attention. And even though I felt like dumping my drinks all over her head, I held my voice steady as I told her that while I expected childish behavior from my 3 year old, I was surprised by childish behavior from an "adult". She sat silently, with a silly look on her face as I turned and left the store.

Consider this a virtual dumping of iced mocha over an immature moron's head.

D my name is Dinosaur

We studied the letter D a few weeks ago. So Dinosaurs were our guest stars. I was just getting my sea legs back from a month's worth of sickness, During which time our preschool studies took a serious hit.
We headed into the city to the Academy of Natural Sciences, aka The Dinosaur Museum. We had been there twice before, but this time we focused our efforts on all things extinct. We watched huge bones be cleaned and learned about fossils. On our way out of the building, we stopped in the gift shop (which I never do) but was looking for these silly bandz - which I found! When we got home, we ate some Scooby snacks, aka Dinosaur bones and then traded our bracelets with each other. The Salad was Deeply grateful to each other for every trade and much hugging ensued. We also played Hide the Bone and put together a Dinosaur puzzle. To end our Day of study, we made a cool craft out of used coffee grounds. Lucky for my Salad, I have a serious caffeine addiction, so coffee grounds abound in our abode - ooooh that was Difficult to say! Anyway, we made these out of household ingredients and cookie cutters. The only problem we ran into all Day was that the Salad Didn't understand that these were not cookies. More Scooby "bones" solved that quickly, though. After Dinner, we strapped on a present that Ian had given us 2 years ago and stomped around the front yard like Dinosaurs.As an aside, an older woman parked right outside of the museum was pulling away as we were creeping along, hoping against hope I'd find close parking. However, I Didn't see until I had passed her, that she was leaving the Holy Grail of city parking. I raced around the block, only to find her still there, holding her spot for me. She motioned for me to roll Down my window and shouted out "I knew you'd be back! I wanted to tell you, I paid for 2 hours of parking! Enjoy!" and then my parking angel pulled away. It was a random act of kindness that I intend to pay forward.

Universe? I'm picking up what you're putting down.

My birthday was in the beginning of July. If you remember, last year I had the most fun, rockin' birthday. EVER. This year was the universe's way of reminding me that some days are mediocre at best. Birthdays, apparently, are not the exception to this rule.

A quick recap would include a trip to my doctor, Salad in tow, with a strep throat/ear infection/pink eye diagnosis. It would be followed up by lunch at what I can imagine is the only NON drive through McDonalds in all the land. So, I parked and hauled a hungry Salad past the playland into a McDonalds whose air conditioner had broken.

Oh, and it was 101 degrees outside.

Then, it was off for an afternoon trip to the pediatrician for our second pink eye diagnosis of the day.

Of course, my day got a little better when R finally made it home from work and promptly took the well children to Target to buy me birthday presents. My loot included 6 small pink tupperware containers, 2 Natalie Merchant tickets, 1 pink tiara and a box of gumballs. A confiscated the tiara before she even opened my present, taking it off just before bed and requesting I "put it in her dress up trunk."

R and the Salad did sing me happy birthday on day-old cupcakes. That was nice. Definitely, the highlight of my day was when M finished singing and then said "Happy birthday, to my life." Thanks, buddy, for making my day worth the mediocrity. You are my life, too. Albeit a life filled with germs and viral bacteria.
Things worthy of mention in this photo:
1. My pink eye.
2. S's pink eye.
3. "My" tiara on A's head.

Saladisms

Sometimes I forget that I started this blog just to remember things about the Salad. More often than not, I get too wordy and won't post something I've written because it's not quite right or I don't have the "perfect" picture to go with the post.

But for now, I am lowering my blogging standards to remember these few things.

July 1st, 2010: Impromptu day trip to the beach yielded these beauts -

M: "Mommy, you gotta duck your head when that ea-gull comes near us!"

A: "I'm too hot in the sun. I'm going into the shave."

S: "Do you have your babe-ing suit on too, mama?"

July 4th, 2010 : At the parade, a light blue '68 Caddy passed us and M shouted out "Wow, Mommy! Look at that boat!"

Come Monday

I've mentioned before that Mondays are our down days. We don't have any weekly outings or activities. Therefore, to add a little something something to an otherwise boring day, I took an idea from some mom blogs I have stumbled upon. Muffin Tin Monday! If I have learned anything about mothering the preschool set - it's that it's all about the presentation. So here is how our lunches look on Mondays.
It should be noted that Monday has always been Mani/Pedi Monday - pretty self explanatory - the Salad gets their fingers and toes done. That's 60 tiny nails. Good thing I have a whole day blocked off for it.

It should also be noted that Messy Art Monday has recently been born. An idea conceived by Miss Amy (a cool homeschooling mama in our Wednesday playgroup). We waited until nice weather to unroll this one though. Amy brings a giant picnic table into her complex's common ground and tells 13 preschoolers to come dressed for mess. She provides the idea and supplies and the kids go to town.

And one final note, because we are often around the house on Mondays, we usually do a short preschool lesson in our preschool room. We learn about the letter of the week, read a book, do a craft, practice writing and eat snacks all about that week's letter.
This week we are learning about the letter D. More on our field trip to the Dinosaur Museum later . . .

On flying and poop

This post was written June 3, 2010:

The Franklin Institute hosted Giggle Gang on Thursday morning. A man identifying himself as Dr. Lift sent things flying into the air. Paper birds, plastic bats, airplanes, rockets, ping pong balls, beach balls, balloons and even toilet paper soared above the Salads' heads. M actually squealed out loud when Lift pulled out a leaf blower to keep that beach ball afloat.
Not gonna lie though, our afternoon was not good. Stunk, in fact. Here is a list of reasons why:

1. Tired mommy.
2. Constipated S.
3. Strange gas smell (real gas, not constipated S gas.)
4. Late work night for R.
5. Little boy missing his daddy.
6. 2 popped balloons and one balloon that floated away "like a helicocker."
7. VERY.MESSY.HOUSE stressing me out.
8. Lots of futile phone calls.
9. Guilty mommy.

What can a mommy do? Get up and try again tomorrow. Should be a better day. At least S pooped.