The Upper Crust(less) Epiphany

Every time I inquire about how Shelby liked her school lunch, she always has to tell me how Kara's was SOOO much better because her mom cut the crusts off her PB&J, and my poor child had to peel them off herself. 

So, recently, Kara's mom and I were chatting.  I mentioned how Shelby thought Ms. Alicia was the bomb because of the crust issue.  Alicia rocked me to my core when she told me the whole reason she cuts off Kara's crusts was because her mom never cut hers off.  She also mentioned that she didn't see the point in leaving those darn crusts on when they offered no nutritional value.

Now, one would think bread crusts shouldn't keep this exhausted mom up at night, but it did!  I laid there thinking how irritated I would get at my mom for not cutting off the crusts too.  But, what really kept me up pondering was the whole "no nutritional value" of the crusts.  All this time, I left those crusts on thinking that there was added fiber.  Or vitamins.  Or something.  Kind of along the lines of an apple peel or grape skin.  HA!! 

From now on, those pesky crusts will be cut off of each and every sandwich I make, including my own.   Why did it take me 38 years to realize I don't HAVE to eat the crust?

P.S.  Of all the things I could blog about, I chose bread crusts??  It's time to get back in the blogging game and write about things that matter!!

You Mexico

We were FINALLY able to make it to New Mexico in late February since we weren't able to go out over Christmas.  As usual, we had a great time, and the kids LOVED seeing Grandma and Grandpa Birdie.  Highlights included:

• A visit from Sonia and her new baby boy Peyton.
• Feeding about 150 sandhill cranes that migrate through the property
• Spending lots of time with the cousins, including our newest addition, Jude
• Shelby announcing she was changing the name of the state from New Mexico to You Mexico.  Um...okay...???

And a million pictures from the fun trip:

Shelby showing Grandma how to use an Innotab

Haley and Peyton

Feeding the cranes

Sandhill Cranes

Haley learning to use the plasma car

Shelby and Grandma building a puzzle

Aaron and Jude having a little nap time

Shelby on the fort

Storytime with Grandma and the cousins

PADdington Bear

My cousin and his wife were recent houseguests of ours.  While we were having a lovely time catching up on life, Haley was keeping herself busy playing doctor to her stuffed animals in her bedroom.  I didn't think much about it until she marched in to show me her bandaged bear.  Take a gander at her nursing talents:

Poor bear had a cut

In case you can't tell why a bandaged bear is worthy of a blog post, maybe a closeup will explain why I was incredibly embarassed!

Where's the nearest rock for me to crawl under?



The Boob Tube

I have many reasons to believe Tivo was developed by parents.  What did society do before Tivo existed?  Go insane?  I just can't imagine being a parent without it.  Not only do we get to watch our tv shows without interruption, we can plop the kids down at any given moment when we need a little downtime.

Back when I was a kid, we only got cartoons on Saturday morning.  I bet my parents lived for those free moments, when my sister and I were glued to the Smurfs and Scooby Doo.  Kids' programming for a few hours once a week should have been considered parent abuse in 1979.  PBS did offer Sesame Street, 321 Contact, and Mr. Rogers everyday, but those re-runs would only go so far.

Before having kids, I bought into the whole "limit your kids' tv time to so many hours per week" crap.  I swore my kids would be learning from books, not from Barney.  HA!!

Confession time...my kids watch tv at least 2 hours a day*.  And, guess what?  I don't feel guilty or embarrassed to admit that.  In fact, it is those precious, calm moments that keep me sane.  Plop Haley in front of Max and Ruby with a sippy cup of milk, and mom instantly gets to check Facebook do laundry.

So, in the spirit of "educational programming", I wanted to give a rundown of all the kids' shows poor Bryon and I have become way more familiar with than we ever imagined. 

1.  Octonauts.  Okay, so this one isn't the most annoying thing on Disney Jr.  In fact, I kind of like the "Creature Report" at the end of every episode that gives facts on marine animals.  Although, I can never tell if they are singing, "Creature Alert" or "Creature Report."



The Gup-E.  Get it?



2.  Doc McStuffins.  Probably the best female character Disney has created EVER.  This little adorable black girl cures all the toys' ailments in the neighborhood.  Such a better role model than that needy Sleeping Beauty!



No prince needed here!



3.  Max and Ruby.  I hate this show.  Ruby is the most nagging animated creature I've ever seen.  Of course this is the only show Haley ever asks to watch.  She does it just to drive me crazy! 



Ruby doing what she does best...nag Max



4.  Poppy Cat.  I've never actually watched a full minute of this one.  I hope it is teaching good behavior.  For all I know, Poppy Cat is growing poppies for her own personal narcotic addiction.  The only thing I do know about this show is that Bryon has taught the girls to make silly clicking noises during the opening song.  It's amusing to listen to while chccking pinterest doing laundry. 



To the poppy fields?

 I realize these confessions will probably put me out of the running for Mother-of-the-Year, but that is a risk I'm willing to take.


*Okay, it is probably closer to 3, but who's counting??

I REALLY mean it!

Is there anything cuter than pre-schoolers on Valentines Day?  This year was no exception. 

First up was Haley's class party.  They did the typical games, books, sugar-filled snacks, and card exchange.  But, the highlight was the little presentation they did with their teacher, Ms. Liz.  How Ms. Liz can get a group of 9 two & three-year-olds to stand still and sing is beyond me!  She has more patience in her left pinky than I do in my whole body.  Check out the cuteness that is "Skid-a-ma-rink-a-dink-a-dink":

At the end, the kids all sing, "I love you.  I REALLY mean it!"  Haley's been adding the line to everything since her presentation.  "Mom, I need milk now!  I REALLY mean it!"  "Mom, my arm hurts.  I REALLY mean it!"  




Haley and 'Lone (Malone, her bestfriend)



And, another song showing just how patient Ms. Liz is:



After coming down from my sugar high from the first party, it was time for Shelby's class.  Being a little older (4&5), they all knew what sugary goodness was in store for the day.  It was heart-warming to see them so excited to pass out their special Valentines cards to all their friends.   In a few short years, it will be more about the boyfriend/girlfriend experience, so I am cherishing these years while Shelby LOVES everyone just for who they are. 



Shelby checking out her loot

 Shelby's teacher, Ms. Monica, surprised the kids by arranging their monster card boxes around the room doing various activities.  Sam's box was sitting in Ms. Monica's chair.  Shelby's box was hanging out in the stroller.  Dany's box was rocking Molly's box in the cradle.  My favorite was Varalika's box ironing.  I wonder if she would come do some ironing at my house!


Varalika is ironing!

Not to be left out on the love, Bryon and I went on the best Valentine's Day date is YEARS.  (Not to say we've been on some bad dates, but we just haven't done anything at all in a long time.)  We went to some friends' house and took the kids.  They were pretty close to perfect, playing upstairs all night, all the while letting the adults sip a little wine and have real adult conversations.  What more could a middle-aged mama ask for?!?

Time for Shull

Just look at that grin!  Is Haley in her "happy place" or what?!?  Her newest passion is playing "shull" (school) in her room.  She loves to raid my disposable plates, cups, and utensils, then set up snack time for all her stuffed animals.  In true Haley style, the best part is passing out the "snacks".  A dollop of applesauce, a handful of chocolate chips, some pieces of pecans, and a spoonful of powdered ranch dressing are just a few of the delicious (?) goodies she has served her lucky students.  

The funniest shull story so far was the day I peeked in and saw her with a roll of paper towels, cleaning up some applesauce off the floor.  I asked her what she was doing, and she said her student "Fanana" threw up.  Sure...blame the teddy bear for the mess!!

A Christmas to Remember

Because of Bryon's surgery, we ended up spending Christmas at home this year.  I have to say it was one to remember for several reasons.

First, the girls finally figured out the Santa concept and were absolutely obsessed with everything Santa.  Now I know what I put my parents through on Christmas Eve.  Getting them to bed was real chore!  But, seeing their excitement on Christmas morning made it all worth it.  Some highlights:

Haley getting caught opening a gift before it was time.  "What?  Me?  I'm doing nothing wrong!"

The girls trying their hardest to get on the "Nice" list

Shelby discovering her ultimate wish came true~a unicorn Dreamlite and a trampoline!

Funny masks from Grandma Birdy

After Santa arrived and we opened all our gifts, my mom & Jeff, and Molly, Marc, Carly, & Conrad all came over for our big family gathering.  The girls had a blast pestering Conrad, while the grownups had a blast feeding our faces.  

Cousins!

Just after eating and opening gifts, the rain changed to snow.  My family all hit the road before they were going to be snowed in at the Pfaff house.  I guess the idea of driving on black ice sounded better than spending the night with my crazy kids!  

With the house empty and the hot tub nice and toasty, the girls talked Bryon into quite possibly the silliest idea I had ever heard.  When I think back to Christmas 2012, what I will remember most is hearing the roaring laughter coming from my backyard while Bryon and the girls swam in the snow.  

My crazy polar bears!