Closet Cleaning 101

By nature, I’m not usually a very neat person. Up until I had kids, I was messy, really messy, but the cleaning gene must have kicked into overdrive once my first kid was cut out of my womb. Dare I say, I’m starting to follow in the footsteps of my neat freak mother, who couldn’t go more than a day or two without vacuuming?

Well, not quite. Before kids, I’d let dirty laundry pile up for weeks on end, and wouldn’t think twice about dirty dishes sitting in the sink. Now, I stay on top of the laundry, but have no problem letting it sit clean and folded in laundry baskets. I also hardly ever leave dirty dishes in the sink, instead I leave clean dishes in the dishwasher or piled in the drying rack.

I guess I have a threshold when it comes to messes, and I hit that point this week when it comes to the kids’ closets. I know the two older girls have plenty of uniforms to wear to school, but just about every morning last week I heard, “Mom! I can’t find anything to wear!” Yes, that complaint starts as early as kindergarten. I would then be forced to rummage through their closets and locate said uniforms.

I wish I would have taken before photos of the closets, but alas, I only have the closet glamour shots.

Olivia's Clean Closet (for now)

Erin's Color Coordinated Closet

We’ll see how long this lasts, but if it stays looking like this for at least a week, I’ll consider it a success.

Since I was on a closet organizing kick, I also decided to tackle Carrie’s dresser drawers. It was not an easy task, considering she not only had all of her own clothes, but also her two sisters’ hand-me-downs. Those drawers were so stuffed, I could barely open and close them.

Well….. here they are now:

 
Don’t they look beautiful? Once again, I’m sure these drawers will not stay this way for long, which is why I took the photos. This mom would at least like to go back and look at her hard work every now and then. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to show it off for her clean freak mom, who is a devoted follower of this blog, and who has been known to clean out her grandchildren’s drawers all on her own.

First Week of 3rd Grade & Kindergarten

The first week of the 2011/2012 school year is now history, and by just about all accounts, it was a success, well at least by kid standards.

All Smiles Before School

Olivia was psyched for school. It helped that her best friend since kindergarten was in her class for the fourth year in a row. The Friday before school started, we trekked up to the school three times, just in case the classroom lists were posted earlier than the 5 p.m. deadline. Olivia was as anxious to see that class list as a high school senior is waiting on their college acceptance letters. That’s a bad analogy because now I’m thinking about college for the kids.

O.K., I’m moving back to elementary school. The first morning, Van and I both took the girls to school. I walked Olivia over to the 3rd grade area, while Van stayed with Erin. I joined them as soon as Olivia was settled, which was about a nanosecond, because she was off and running once she spotted her friends. Erin was definitely nervous. She didn’t want to play on the playground before school started, and you could see the fear and trepidation in her beautiful brown eyes.

Once the bell rang, the kindergarteners and their parents filed into the classroom. Since we were at school one day earlier for an ice cream social, Erin knew what table was hers, and she made a beeline for it. She sat down, looked at the kid to the right of her, and looked at the kid to the left of her. Neither was crying, so even though I think she was on the verge of tears, if I could guess what was going on inside of that head of hers, I would guess she was thinking that as long as her table-mates weren’t crying, she wasn’t going to shed any tears either. So she moved onto coloring.

Coloring Makes Everything Better

Shortly after taking this picture, Van and I were ushered out with the rest of the parents. We then took a quick step inside Olivia’s classroom, saw she was doing just fine, and then we both headed off to work.

After school, Erin called me to tell me about her day. Her response? “It was kinda ok.” Uh-oh. That’s not the response I wanted. I wanted her to say, “I loved it Mommy!” Here’s why she didn’t love it. Apparently, she asked a little girl if she wanted to play with her on the playground, and she got dissed. The girl said she was already playing with three other kids. When Erin told me the story, my heart broke for her.

Erin seemed even more hesitant about the second day of school now that she knew what to expect. She’s a trooper though, and walked into her classroom without much more than a second look at me, after I waved goodbye. I thought and worried about her all day, but apparently it was needless worry. When she called me after school, she said her day went much better, and she made a friend! I seriously nearly lost it when she told me that.

New school years and new classrooms. They’re a rite of passage for kids and their parents. As a kid, I know every year it got easier. I thought the same would be true for parents. It’s not. I shudder to think how I will react in two years when Carrie starts kindergarten.

90 Days of P90X

90 days is a lot of time to do anything, and when it comes to working out at least six days a week in front of the TV while a crazy man named Tony Horton makes inane comments, it’s really, really hard. It’s hard, but I’m proud to say I did it. So did Van. I’m quite certain without him getting my ass out of bed every morning I wouldn’t have done it. When the alarm clock went off almost every morning at 5:30 a.m., I was always more than tempted to roll over and go back to bed, but 99% of the time I resisted temptation because Van was already out of bed.

So how much weight can you lose when you work out an hour to an hour and a half six days a week, and substantially cut back on your calorie intake? Well for me, I lost 11.5 pounds. Yes, I’m including the .5 because the first week I lost .4 pound. When I saw that result, I was less than happy. I was ready go back to sleeping in and drinking my nightly glass or two of beer, wine, or vodka tonics. But no, I stuck with it, and eventually I saw some pretty impressive results. I no longer have my mom pooch, and have some actual definition in my arms. Those muscles in my arms, shoulders, and back helped make it possible for me to do two pull-ups all on my own. Well, the lower weight also helps. I even dropped about two pant sizes.

Yes, Van and I took before and after photos, but I’m never going to be publishing those puppies.  I know plenty of people proudly show off their weight loss by posting their before and after pics. Me? I’m content to keep those photos private, and only pull them up when I fall off the health and fitness wagon and need some more motivation.

Van also lost weight and gained a lot of muscle.  He actually lost a lot a weight, much more than I did. About 20 pounds more. Nope, that’s not a typo, you read correctly. The man lost 30+ pounds! He is quite simply a machine completely dedicated to the mission of getting in shape. He may not have six-pack abs, but he definitely has a four pack. It is an impressive sight, and while I know he’ll be embarrassed reading this, the man deserves some serious props not just for transforming his body, but also for keeping me in check and on task.

People keep asking me what I’m going to do now that I’ve completed P90X. I’ve realized to keep me interested in exercising, I need a goal. So instead of stretching yesterday, which was the 90th day of P90X, I went on a 9 mile run and lived to tell about it. That run gave me the confidence to do something really crazy and sign up for the San Jose Rock ‘n’ Roll 1/2 marathon with only about six weeks to train for it. I’m trying to talk Van into doing it with me. If he can convince me to get up at o-dark-hundred hours, I think I can convince him to run a measly 13.1 miles. What do you think?

To Erin: Oh the Places You’ll Go!

Dear Erin,

I know you can’t read yet, but I’m writing this to you anyway, less than one day before you start kindergarten. Yeah ok, this letter is probably more for me than for you, but who knows, maybe one day when you can read, which I’m sure will be in about a week, you’ll appreciate it.

I know you’re a bit nervous about kindergarten. It’s ok. So am I. Here’s the thing though, Erin. There’s nothing wrong with being nervous. I’m sure after the first day, the butterflies you’re feeling in your tummy are going to fly away, and you’re going to do great, and have a fantastic year.

First off, I know you have one awesome teacher. You know this too, since Maestra Eva was also Olivia’s kindergarten teacher. She’ll make sure you not only master the basics of reading, and arithmetic, but help you do it all in Spanish by the end of the year.

Second, you’re one special kid. Oh, I know all kids are special, but you really go above and beyond what most five-year old girls do. While plenty of other five-year old girls are content to play with dolls and princesses, you my dear are all about legos and marathon games of Monopoly with Olivia. And forget pink and lace and dresses. Oh no, you’d much rather wear monkey t-shirts and soccer shorts or jeans.

Her favorite outfit: Monkey shirt & soccer shorts

And you know what, I’m ok with that.

Scratch that, I’m more than ok with that. You are one of the most unique, funny, smart, and compassionate 5-year-old girls I know. I wouldn’t have you any other way.  All of these things are what makes you, you.

I also know you’re going to make plenty of brand new friends. Last week, you told me you forgot how to make friends. Well, it’s just like riding a bike, which you’ve now mastered. Once you’ve learned how, you never forget. Good thing you made plenty of friends in pre-school.

Kindergarten is just the beginning of many, many, many years of school. (Yep, you are going to college.) Your dad and I are pretty confident you are going to love kindergarten. We already know you love learning, and you soak up every bit of information into that big brain of yours. Kindergarten is just the first of many new places you’ll go, and we can’t wait to see you spread your wings and soar, although we’ll probably do it with tears in our eyes.

Kate Plus Eight Minus TLC

Love it or hate it, part of TV history will soon come to an end.

TLC issued this statement today. “TLC has decided not to renew another season of Kate Plus 8. By the end of this season Kate Plus 8 will have hit the 150 episode mark (including Jon & Kate Plus 8); an exceptional milestone. TLC hopes to check in with Kate and the family periodically with specials in the future.”

Oh goody, this means the cable channel left open the possibility of giving this media whore potentially more air time.

Kate Gosselin

OK, I admit I used to watch Jon & Kate Plus 8 religiously. I’d force Van to watch it with me too, all the while complaining about how mean Kate was, how awful the show was, and how annoyed I was seeing all the product placements and freebies the Gosselin family would get for parading their freakish family in front of the cameras for the world to watch.

Yes, I hated the show, but I couldn’t stop watching because I loved how much I felt like a better wife and mom, compared to Kate. There’s nothing like seeing someone behave so badly to make yourself feel better, and Kate behaved like a bitch.  I can be a bitch too, but at least I only act that way in front of my friends and family, not in front of the millions of people who would watch the reality show every week.

That all changed once their lives went way beyond reality, and became a circus sideshow. It didn’t matter that I no longer watched the show though, because you saw Jon and Kate everywhere, hurling verbal insults at each other as they aired out their dirty divorce proceedings for the masses. I suspect I’m not the only one who felt this way because if people really still enjoyed watching Kate and her kids, TLC never would have cancelled the show.

Now if only Kate would go into obscurity, never to return to TV, giving her eight kids a chance at reclaiming what’s left of their childhood. Yeah, like that’s really going to happen.  Well, adios for now Kate, until you get your next reality show, ’cause we all know it’s only a matter of time.

Chore Chart

I had chores as a kid, so I see it’s only fitting to make my kids do chores too. Whenever my brothers or I complained about helping around the house, my Dad would inevitably holler out one of his favorite phrases, “That’s why I had kids, to do work around the house.” We complained a lot so I heard that sarcastic phrase ad nauseam growing up.

Well we are one week into Olivia doing chores, and I don’t think I’ve heard her complain yet. In fact, she’s downright excited about doing them. I call her my pleaser kid. She’s the type of kid that likes crossing things off her to do list, or in the case of her chore chart, putting stars next to her completed chores.

I wish we would have started the chores much sooner because I don’t think I’ve seen Olivia & Erin’s bedroom, or the family room stay as neat and tidy as it has for the last week. I’m also doing a whole lot less yelling. Well I’m still yelling, but just not about our messy family room or their dirty bedroom.

Olivia does have added incentive to do her chores. If she does them, she gets cash.

Happy With her Cold Hard Cash

We decided an allowance of five bucks a week was fair. Olivia seems pretty happy with it too, even though she knows $5 isn’t going to buy her very much. The money isn’t really the point. In fact, we didn’t tell her she was getting paid for doing chores until a few days ago. Olivia responded by saying, “Really? You’re paying me for doing what I’m told?” Yes. Yes, we are.

I’d be lying if I said I’m having her do chores and giving her an allowance to teach her responsibility. Yes, that’s a nice perk, but I’m having her do it for purely selfish reasons. I’m tired of spending my evenings picking up after the kids. I’m tired of telling Olivia to read every night. The chore chart has taken care of that…. at least for now.  I’ve got no grand illusions that this will last. I’m sure the novelty of putting stars next to her completed chores will wear off, and at some point, Olivia will not so willingly do as she’s told. For now, however, I’m taking advantage of my pleaser kid wanting to please her Mom and Dad.

Two Wheelin’

Saying goodbye to training wheels is a right of passage for just about any kid, and Erin passed it with almost flying colors. For the last week or so, Van and I have been breaking our backs trying to help her reach this milestone. We’ve been going up and down, and up and down, and up and down (you get the idea) our block barely holding onto Erin’s handlebars while she got her balance and confidence on her pink and purple hand-me-down Schwinn bicycle. She got the bike when Olivia outgrew it, but she made it her own with a bell, which she apparently rang one too many times, because we had to replace it today.

But back to the task at hand: riding WITHOUT training wheels. For the last several days Erin was able to ride for a few seconds on her own if she was able to focus on something or someone. Olivia was usually the someone, and would run back and forth down the block as the focal point. Erin would wait until Olivia got to her mark, and she would then pedal away saying, “Olivia, Olivia, I need to get to Olivia.” She actually made it to her sister a few times.

Today, Van did what he did with Olivia. He took Erin to the neighborhood middle school with a big wide open playground.

Here’s the result:

The camera may have been a bit shaky, but Erin was rock steady! I’ll forgive the shaky cam ’cause Van had to videotape while jogging to keep up with our young cyclist. Yep, I’m one proud Momma, actually getting a little ferklempt as I write this.

She’s in for a big year. First she’s on her way to mastering bike riding, and in two short weeks she’ll embark on her first day of kindergarten. No wonder I’m getting teary eyed. I know Erin’s more than ready for kindergarten. She’s already on the verge of reading, and can do some basic addition and subtraction. She’s a pretty bright kid, and she knows it. Just yesterday, she told me she has a really big brain.

She also knows that as good as she thinks she is at something, she’s bound to have a few falls along the way.

Bike Riding Injuries

That’s what happened this evening when Erin gave biking down our block another go. Either some rose bushes jumped out at her, or she biked right into them, but the end result was some pretty nasty scrapes from some thorny roses. It’s nothing that Scooby Doo and Dora band-aids couldn’t make better,  but the fall also serves as what I think are a couple of  pretty important lessons. First, when you fall down, you have to get back up again. Second, just because you’ve done something good one time, doesn’t mean you’re always going to get it right. I hope she remembers this day, as she heads off for bigger and better things in kindergarten.

Homemade Cambodian Cuisine at its Finest

Having my in-laws in town means I’m eating really well, a little too well. As I write this, my stomach is crying uncle from the four extra helpings I ate at dinner. The original Mamma Meak is one mean cook, and is able to whip up some pretty amazing Cambodian concoctions.

Last night I came home to dinner waiting for me at the table, courtesy of Mamma Meak. The girls happily informed me that they LOVED Grandma Meak’s fresh spring rolls. They’ve had them before, but usually deconstructed them to avoid any green vegetables. This time, they ate the entire roll, six of ‘em in the case of Olivia and Erin. The girls know good spring rolls. My mother in-law’s are about the best I’ve had with chicken, shrimp, noodles, lettuce, cucumber, and mint. She also serves them up with hoisin dipping sauce.

That was followed up with Cambodian crepes, also pretty darned delicious. I’ve eaten them plenty of times, but this time Mamma Meak shared the recipe. Rice flour, coconut milk, and water. Once it’s cooked she fills it with minced chicken, shrimp, bean sprouts, onion and garlic. I not only gobbled up a couple of them, but so did the girls. I guess I’m got some crepe making to do once my in-laws leave town.

Tonight, dinner was once again waiting for me when I came home from work. This time, she made fried rice and fried noodles. Her noodles are hands down, my absolute favorite. That’s why I’m so full now.  I don’t know what it is about these noodles, but I can’t stop eating them. I have absolutely no willpower.

There’s already plans in the works to make egg rolls tomorrow. I’ve got some pretty mixed emotions about this. While I love them, they’re definitely not part of the P90X diet. I know I can’t say no to eating one, but the question remains, will I stop at one? The odds are against me.

Home Away From Home

Almost without fail, whenever I come back home to Minnesota these days, I bring along an entourage. This time, however was different. I came All. By. Myself. Yep, that didn’t go over too well with the grandparents who haven’t seen the girls for months. I think my parents were thinking of blocking the Minnesota border for this infraction. I blame it on my poor planning, realizing a little too late that my 20th high school reunion would coincide with my in-law’s trip to visit us. Oops.

It was really one of the quickest trips to the Land of 10,000 Lakes and 10 million mosquitoes I’ve ever made. I arrived on Friday afternoon and left Sunday at 8 a.m. While the trip was really to reconnect with old high school friends, I did get some quality time with the family.

Being away, I miss out on seeing my nieces and nephew grow up, literally and figuratively.

Nope, I'm not bending down. My nearly 10-year old niece is about to sprout right past me. Did I mention she's not quite 10?

My almost 10-year old niece is now almost as tall as me. I know, not a tough feat, but it’s still a bit shocking. Seeing pictures really do not make up for face-to-face contact, which makes me feel even more guilty for not bringing the entire family with me on this trip.

The last time we saw my nephew, he was a newborn. Now he’s a walking, talking little blond dude who is full of smiles.

Since I don’t know when I’ll be back to visit, I can only imagine what he’ll be doing the next time I’m in town.

Jonah’s sister barely spoke the last time I saw her. Now, she’s more than capable of commandeering my iPad.

Big Eyes Must Run in Our Family

And while I never, ever thought my little brother would look good as a girl, here’s to proving me wrong.

There's no mistaking, he's her Daddy!

Yep, his youngest daughter is a spittin’ image of him, and she’s as cute as can be. Go figure.

Being home makes me nostalgic, and a little bit sad that my girls don’t get to see their Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins nearly as much as I would like.

Thank goodness for technology, and once my parents figure out the iPhone facetime feature, they can video chat with their California grandkids.

But for all the things I miss, I don’t think I could ever get used to the steamy summer days, or the nose hair freezing winters again. I nearly passed out while running with my brother in the horrible humidity. And let’s face it, humidity is not a curly-haired girl’s friend.

So that means I will continue to put up with the high cost of living here in the Bay Area, as well as California’s sorry state of education, and keep dropping not so subtle hints for my brothers and their families to come out and visit us!