Mamazen

I have a cold. you get nothing.

Best I've got on a long Tuesday...

Tuesday is my Monday. Well, not really. Tuesday is my first official work day of the week, but since my husband goes back to work on Monday, it's not like I get to sleep in and relax anyway. Anyway... tuesdays are my first days back in the office. Ruby and I have the morning together, and then I drop her at school at lunch time and pick her up right before dinner. Usually dinner on tuesdays is quick or left overs because I'm tired, and the time between preschool pick up and dinner and shower and bedtime is short... and we move quickly so that there is some time to play with daddy when he gets home.

Well, I slept poorly last night, and Ru was up early today.  On top of a busy day, I'm also sleep deprived, and I fear I'm coming down with something. All I really want to do is curl up with my knitting and watch a movie. 

Sooooo, see ya!

The best of too much?

Today was a monday that had two many stops, too many errands and too many tasks. We saw too many people, I expected too much from my small child and too much from myself. Surprisingly we survived, and almost everything got done and truly we had a great day.  3 grocery stores were visited, speech therapy, swimming and pizza with friends, coop produce picked up, dropped off and divided. The kitchen was cleaned, messed and cleaned again. The trash was taken to the curb and returned to the drive way. The cat litter was changed, the house vacuumed, the bathroom scrubbed. Dinner was made, eaten and cleaned up after. And shockingly, almost all of it was done with little or no melt downs. Not only that, but we had a pretty great day.  Color me shocked, cause I didn't expect THAT. 

And I won't be attempting that again. What I will be attempting is some sleep. There are a lot of big things I have to think about, plan and decide, and I can't do it without some rest. 

17 days in...

17 days of blogging daily, and yep, I'm getting bored. Not that I didn't have a ton of 'best' moments today. I slept till 10 am, after a night of no wake ups by my usually fitful child. I got to go to target all by myself. Ruby had a great time playing with her faux bros, was able to tell them when she needed space, or 'my body!' when they got too close, or pushed too far. (of course the boys have no concept of this, but at least she's asserting herself) We had a fantastic time at Moon's birthday party, an experience that may or may not lead to complete meltdown for ruby. Lots of kids, small space, music and sugar? Could have been complete disaster, but instead, because it was a room filled with accepting children and parents who understand the challenges of raising a kid who may be different... it was outstanding. 

So I do have a lot to write about... but I'm bored, so I'm going to knit instead. :)

Best surprise ending

I'd like to tell you the best part of my day was getting this fantastic haircut and color by the amazing Khat

 

 

or getting my ears fabulously re-pierced by the talented and oh so gentle Blake of Nomad Piercing

 

but it wasn't. It wasn't the 30 minutes Ruby spent in the box with Max and Shoghi making more noise than humanly possible for 3 small people, and it wasn't hearing over and over at dinner "more ca-rots pleeeeease!"

No, the very best part of my day was bath time. Ruby and I languished in a tub of delicious hot water splashing singing, and relaxing.  And then she put her Buzz Lightyear underpants on her head, proclaimed herself "SOOO-Per Buzz" and went for a swim. 

I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. And of course, I didn't have my camera in the bathtub. So, you'll have to take my word for it. 

 

 
 

Best use of shipping materials

 

Nothing like a kid in a box to make the day joyful.

 

 

More! more box please!
 

 

B.E.S.T.

 

 

Best regular wednesday date

Ruby and Jake were born 12 hours apart. We've played together with Jake and his mama Lee off and on since we met (not long after they were born) but never had a regular scheduled date, we even did a joint birthday party this summer. This fall we started meeting up at different places on wednesdays after the kids get out of school and it's always been a great time. We've met at different parks, OMSI, and each others homes. Today we went to the library for symphony storytime that featured a flute playing while the children's librarian read stories. The kids were enthralled but after about 30 minutes they were ready to head out of there. We then headed home to burn off some late afternoon energy by jumping on the trampoline.

 

  

Well, not all the time was spent jumping...
 
 
 

Best place to be at 10 am on tuesday

Ah, one of the reasons I love Facebook. Yesterday a friend of mine who owns a fabulous boutique (but not a chi chi, overpriced, pretentious, yuppie one) Milagros posted about Mr. Ben coming to sing songs in the Milagros family room. 

 

In the past, a room full of kids, making noise (no matter how happy) could be a ticket to melt down central. We hadn't tried an event like this since summer, when attending a music session at AirPlay cafe  would end in poor Ruby being carried out kicking and screaming, and me feeling like the worst mother ever. Of course, now I realize it was just too much, too loud, and her system just got completely overwhelmed.

  

Things have surely changed a lot in the past 6 months, Ruby is working hard to use words rather than just lose it, and I am working hard to know her needs rather than lose it... so we gave it a shot. The Milagros family room is much smaller than Airplay was, and I'd hoped it would be less loud. Oh, I was right. Not only was it perfect, with just the right number of kids/parents but Mr. Ben was fun, had great music, and personality and he was cute too! Ruby loves music these days and had a fantastic time dancing and singing along. We'll be back next tuesday for sure!

 

 

Best playdate idea ever.

Today Ruby and I met up with Megan and Adah, and Celeste and the boys at the Kennedy School Soaking Pool. It was Megan's brilliant idea, and oh holy perfection, it was great. It was only in the mid 40s today so I was skeptical about going to an outside pool, but it was amazing. The water is hot like a bathtub, so the cool damp air feels fantastic. Part of the pool has jets (or bubbles as the kids said) and it's lined with trees and shrubbery. It's relatively shallow, and has a tile bench all the way around for sitting (and standing if your a little peanut like Max and Shoghi). Max was a wee bit weary at first, but in the end even he was won over and loved the soaking pool. Ruby of course was happy as can be, which means I was happy too. 

Truthfully, it was just what the doctor ordered. A hot pool, cool air, and good friends who accept you and your child as they are. Not a bad way to start the week at all. 

We'll be back, and I'm guessing we won't be going alone. Will you join us?