Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
The Princess and The................Elephant???
Months ago I had the brilliant idea that my kids were going to coordinate for Halloween. They were going to be so cute in their matching costumes. But each idea I had either one or both of the little ones shot down. I had pretty much given up until we went to Marshall's last month and Greyson fell in love with a knight costume. At last!!! I rushed out and bought a princess costume for Quinn and we were all set.
So you can imagine my sheer delight last night when Greyson announced that he was going to be an elephant for his Lil' Punkin Parade at school. You remember that costume I bought him a month ago that he put on for 10 seconds and wanted nothing more to do with. The costume that has been gathering dust in the closet - completely forgotten about until now. I tried to bribe him "If you are a knight you get to have a sword." No good. "If you are a knight I will let you take your horse to school to ride on." Still no good. So may I present to you The Princess and The Elephant. (sigh)
So you can imagine my sheer delight last night when Greyson announced that he was going to be an elephant for his Lil' Punkin Parade at school. You remember that costume I bought him a month ago that he put on for 10 seconds and wanted nothing more to do with. The costume that has been gathering dust in the closet - completely forgotten about until now. I tried to bribe him "If you are a knight you get to have a sword." No good. "If you are a knight I will let you take your horse to school to ride on." Still no good. So may I present to you The Princess and The Elephant. (sigh)
Sunday, October 25, 2009
El Dia Del Quinn
I love having two children. I love how they are becoming best friends (most of the time). I love how they are starting to really interact and how I can finally send them to their rooms to play with each other while I make dinner.
But while there are a zillion and one things that are good about having two (or more) children, there is one big drawback - the limited one on one time I get with them. So yesterday when Greyson went off to spend the night at his BFF Yohannes' house I jumped at the chance to get some one on one time with Quinn. Raif had to work on some boat project for Nini and Dede so Quinn and I were really on our own. It was a gorgeous fall day and so we headed out to Cheekwood's El Dia De Los Muertos festival (The Day of the Dead for all you gringos). We listened to the mariachi band and watched the Aztec dancers dance. We sampled some insanely good tacos and quesadillas. We made skeleton masks and marigold flowers. But most of all I just listened. I listened to my little girl talk about whatever she wanted - with no interruptions from her brother. She got to control the afternoon and we did whatever she wanted. She definitely has a different personality when she isn't battling her brother for attention.
After the festival we met Daddy for dinner (Mexican of course) and finally home to bed. This was one of my favorite days in a long while and makes me realize we need to do some more one on one things with the kids.
But while there are a zillion and one things that are good about having two (or more) children, there is one big drawback - the limited one on one time I get with them. So yesterday when Greyson went off to spend the night at his BFF Yohannes' house I jumped at the chance to get some one on one time with Quinn. Raif had to work on some boat project for Nini and Dede so Quinn and I were really on our own. It was a gorgeous fall day and so we headed out to Cheekwood's El Dia De Los Muertos festival (The Day of the Dead for all you gringos). We listened to the mariachi band and watched the Aztec dancers dance. We sampled some insanely good tacos and quesadillas. We made skeleton masks and marigold flowers. But most of all I just listened. I listened to my little girl talk about whatever she wanted - with no interruptions from her brother. She got to control the afternoon and we did whatever she wanted. She definitely has a different personality when she isn't battling her brother for attention.
After the festival we met Daddy for dinner (Mexican of course) and finally home to bed. This was one of my favorite days in a long while and makes me realize we need to do some more one on one things with the kids.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Hide and Seek
It was time to go outside - Greyson rushed out the door and as usual Quinn didn't have her shoes on so I told her to go fetch them while I went outside and checked on Greyson. After 5 minutes, when Quinn hadn't emerged from the house I went back inside and found her sitting where I left her. "Quinn why haven't you gotten your shoes? Have you even looked for them?"
"I just assumed that I can't find them."
"I just assumed that I can't find them."
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Queen for a Day....
Quinn chose the zoo for her special event and of course had to ride the pink flamingo.
Enjoying her new dollhouse.
She got to choose what she wore to school (though I did make her wear the jeans under her see through tu-tu).
Empty calories at school.
Blowing out her candle and the end to a very wonderful birthday.
Dancing Queen
For her birthday Quinn got lots of wonderful things but by far her two favorites were her belly dancing and ballet outfits (or as she calls them her belly and her ballet). I have spent the last two days feeling like I was backstage at Cats. She spends 10 minutes dancing in her belly and then has to change to her ballet and back again and again and again. She definitely has the dancing fever...
Monday, October 19, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Sultan and the Dancer
Raif's Godmother Susie recently went to Turkey and brought the kids back some authentic Turkish outfits....
I have a feeling that Raif would have preferred a Burqua for Quinn but I think they are both adorable.
I have a feeling that Raif would have preferred a Burqua for Quinn but I think they are both adorable.
Hockey, Hockey, Hockey
I know everyone is sick of hockey posts but....
My parents came in town for Quinn's birthday and Greyson took them to their first game...
My parents came in town for Quinn's birthday and Greyson took them to their first game...
One of Those Moments
Being an only child and therefore producing the sole grandchildren means my parents come here a lot. And no matter how close their visits are my mother always says the same thing within 10 minutes of seeing the kids: "They have changed so much." I always make fun of her flair for the dramatic but I realize that seeing them every day has made me oblivious to their changes. Obviously, I know they are changing but the moments when it actually hits me are few and far between.
Greyson has slept with a baby blanket pretty much every day of his life. He rotates in between three of them but always has to have one of them on top of him when he goes to bed. Last week Raif had a dinner meeting so I put Greyson to bed which I hardly ever do. I laid the blanket on him and he told me to put it on so it covered his feet and so I did but then he complained that it didn't cover his chest. I looked down and saw that my little boy who used to swim in that blanket has all of the sudden outgrown it. That two pound fragile baby has turned into the little boy with lanky legs sprouting out from that blanket like a weed. When did this happen?
A woman admiring my kids once told me that children are the best markers of time you will ever have. That night I realized that was true. I just wish I could slow down that clock a bit.
Greyson has slept with a baby blanket pretty much every day of his life. He rotates in between three of them but always has to have one of them on top of him when he goes to bed. Last week Raif had a dinner meeting so I put Greyson to bed which I hardly ever do. I laid the blanket on him and he told me to put it on so it covered his feet and so I did but then he complained that it didn't cover his chest. I looked down and saw that my little boy who used to swim in that blanket has all of the sudden outgrown it. That two pound fragile baby has turned into the little boy with lanky legs sprouting out from that blanket like a weed. When did this happen?
A woman admiring my kids once told me that children are the best markers of time you will ever have. That night I realized that was true. I just wish I could slow down that clock a bit.
Rant....
I haven't ranted in a long time so I thought you might have missed it.....
To all the 'mothers' (I use this term loosely) at the local discovery center:
The discovery center is not a babysitting service contrary to what you think. The purpose of the center is to explore WITH your children. Not to simply let them run off willy-nilly while you ignore them as you text/chat/talk on the phone/sit on your ass. If your children are too young or don't understand the concepts of sharing and taking turns then you need to guide them through these actions. I realize that you think you need to catch up on your friend's pathetic life and apparently you can't multi-task and do both at the same time so you send junior off to wreak havoc on the rest of us. But what happens is my daughter's heart gets broken when she spends 10 minutes filling her basket with fruit at the play grocery store and your little 'angel' comes over and simply steals it from her. I am left with a crying child asking me why your child did that. I of course can't answer honestly - that you are a rude, lazy bitch so I have to come up with some PC response. The easier answer would be for you to get off your ass and interact with your child and teach her some manners so she doesn't grow up to become....well.....you.
To all the 'mothers' (I use this term loosely) at the local discovery center:
The discovery center is not a babysitting service contrary to what you think. The purpose of the center is to explore WITH your children. Not to simply let them run off willy-nilly while you ignore them as you text/chat/talk on the phone/sit on your ass. If your children are too young or don't understand the concepts of sharing and taking turns then you need to guide them through these actions. I realize that you think you need to catch up on your friend's pathetic life and apparently you can't multi-task and do both at the same time so you send junior off to wreak havoc on the rest of us. But what happens is my daughter's heart gets broken when she spends 10 minutes filling her basket with fruit at the play grocery store and your little 'angel' comes over and simply steals it from her. I am left with a crying child asking me why your child did that. I of course can't answer honestly - that you are a rude, lazy bitch so I have to come up with some PC response. The easier answer would be for you to get off your ass and interact with your child and teach her some manners so she doesn't grow up to become....well.....you.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Fall Memories
Last Memorial Day we went to spend a weekend with our friends Doug, Cindy and Zach. While I was there I rummaged through all Cindy's stuff to steal her best book/toy/craft ideas. She had these wonderful blank books from Bare Books that I promptly ordered when I got home and there they sat.
They have been collecting dust because frankly getting my son to write and or draw has been like pulling teeth. He is a bit of an active fellow and would rather be running around doing anything and everything than sitting quietly at the table. However, over the past few weeks he has finally started showing an interest in writing and drawing so I thought I would strike while the iron was hot.
My idea was to make a book for every season - writing down the things they like best and drawing pictures to match. We made the covers last week and today was the first page. We have been talking about fall non-stop in this house - pumpkins, leaves, apples, scarecrows so I was excited to see what they would choose for their first pages.
M: What is your favorite thing about fall Greyson?
G: Hockey
M: Are you sure it isn't the pretty fall leaves or carving scary pumpkins?
G: No it's hockey.
Quinn who adores her brother always seems to pick exactly the same thing as her brother so I was expecting hockey out of her but....
M: What about you Quinn?
Q: Basketball
M: Sweetie, basketball is more of a winter sport. Wouldn't you rather draw a pretty pumpkin? Plus basketball is a really long word.
Q: I want to write basketball.
Maybe I will have better luck with Page Two.
They have been collecting dust because frankly getting my son to write and or draw has been like pulling teeth. He is a bit of an active fellow and would rather be running around doing anything and everything than sitting quietly at the table. However, over the past few weeks he has finally started showing an interest in writing and drawing so I thought I would strike while the iron was hot.
My idea was to make a book for every season - writing down the things they like best and drawing pictures to match. We made the covers last week and today was the first page. We have been talking about fall non-stop in this house - pumpkins, leaves, apples, scarecrows so I was excited to see what they would choose for their first pages.
M: What is your favorite thing about fall Greyson?
G: Hockey
M: Are you sure it isn't the pretty fall leaves or carving scary pumpkins?
G: No it's hockey.
Quinn who adores her brother always seems to pick exactly the same thing as her brother so I was expecting hockey out of her but....
M: What about you Quinn?
Q: Basketball
M: Sweetie, basketball is more of a winter sport. Wouldn't you rather draw a pretty pumpkin? Plus basketball is a really long word.
Q: I want to write basketball.
Maybe I will have better luck with Page Two.
Busted
Tonight Raif had a dinner meeting so it was just the three of us for supper. As it does almost every night the conversation turned to manners. We talked about things we should do and things we shouldn't. Quinn chimed in with the best lesson of all:
"Sometimes Daddy doesn't use manners because he plays with his phone at the table and you shouldn't play with toys at the table."
Couldn't have said it better myself. I am thinking Raif needs a time out.
"Sometimes Daddy doesn't use manners because he plays with his phone at the table and you shouldn't play with toys at the table."
Couldn't have said it better myself. I am thinking Raif needs a time out.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
One Day, One Day Only.....
Thought I would pass along to everyone a couple of websites that I have found - thanks goes to Burke for turning me on to them. And some of you may have already heard of these as I realize I am not always the hippest around....
The first one is Woot and for you parents out there Kids Woot. How woot works is this - they sell something and only one thing for one day. Every day the woot deal changes - clearly playing on your impulse urges. The items are usually really discounted and pretty good deals. Now, honestly, a lot of it is crap but we found the kids some fishing poles and some outdoor airplanes at ridiculously low prices. And even if you don't find something you like the descriptions are pretty funny and worth the 15 seconds a day it takes to scan the site and read them.
The other site is Groupon. Groupon is similar to Woot in that its sale is for one day only. You purchase coupons based on the city you live (Nashville, Atlanta, Austin, Seattle, KC and DC are all included) for local businesses. There is a minimum number that have to be purchased in order for you to get it - usually around 20 (hence the group and coupon mix). Once the minimum number of people commit then the deal is on and everyone gets the coupon. Like Woot they are pretty good deals - the latest in Nashville was $20 worth of Maggie Moos for $10. I mean who doesn't want 50% off their ice cream??
Anyway, thought everyone might like to get a good deal or two. Happy Shopping.
The first one is Woot and for you parents out there Kids Woot. How woot works is this - they sell something and only one thing for one day. Every day the woot deal changes - clearly playing on your impulse urges. The items are usually really discounted and pretty good deals. Now, honestly, a lot of it is crap but we found the kids some fishing poles and some outdoor airplanes at ridiculously low prices. And even if you don't find something you like the descriptions are pretty funny and worth the 15 seconds a day it takes to scan the site and read them.
The other site is Groupon. Groupon is similar to Woot in that its sale is for one day only. You purchase coupons based on the city you live (Nashville, Atlanta, Austin, Seattle, KC and DC are all included) for local businesses. There is a minimum number that have to be purchased in order for you to get it - usually around 20 (hence the group and coupon mix). Once the minimum number of people commit then the deal is on and everyone gets the coupon. Like Woot they are pretty good deals - the latest in Nashville was $20 worth of Maggie Moos for $10. I mean who doesn't want 50% off their ice cream??
Anyway, thought everyone might like to get a good deal or two. Happy Shopping.
Pumpkins, Pumpkins Everywhere
There are tons of symbols of fall - burnt red and orange leaves, friendly scarecrows, hot apple cider, bats, witches and ghouls. But to me nothing says fall like a pumpkin. So this weekend was also pumpkin weekend in our house. We went with our friends the Wagers to the pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect ones.
And of course to pose for the annual pumpkin pictures...
But we also chose to make our own. We did a variation of traditional paper-mache using tissue paper
and voila some pretty cool looking pumpkins if I do say so myself.....
And of course to pose for the annual pumpkin pictures...
But we also chose to make our own. We did a variation of traditional paper-mache using tissue paper
and voila some pretty cool looking pumpkins if I do say so myself.....
Oktoberfest
We celebrated Oktoberfest in the Erim household this weekend by making some homemade soft pretzels. Quinn was an excellent helper and mixed all the ingredients and kneaded the dough.
Greyson preferred to make a hockey rink out of blocks.
But it was all hands on deck for the twisting of the knots.
We enjoyed our pretzels with some sausages at lunch - very German and a wonderful excuse for Raif and I to have beer in the afternoon!!
Greyson preferred to make a hockey rink out of blocks.
But it was all hands on deck for the twisting of the knots.
We enjoyed our pretzels with some sausages at lunch - very German and a wonderful excuse for Raif and I to have beer in the afternoon!!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
My Daughter - Apparently an Old Dog
With the warm Indian summer around here the wasps have come out in full force and so I was telling the kids to stay away from them.
Q: But Mommy why do waps sting??
Me: I don't know honey but your pronounce it 'wasps'
Q: Waps
Me No honey - wasps
Q: But Mommy you taught me to say waps and its too late to change now....
Q: But Mommy why do waps sting??
Me: I don't know honey but your pronounce it 'wasps'
Q: Waps
Me No honey - wasps
Q: But Mommy you taught me to say waps and its too late to change now....
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
Ever since our Saturday at Cheekwood the kids have been talking about scarecrows - so yesterday out came the rag bag and some straw....
The finished product - sure to scare away just about anything....
But of course the best part was the 'clean-up'....
The finished product - sure to scare away just about anything....
But of course the best part was the 'clean-up'....
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Scarecrows
On a perfect fall day, there is nothing better than checking out some scarecrows. Saturday we visited Cheekwood for its annual Scarecrow exhibit. Here are some of our favorites...
Giselle
Crow White and the Seven Pumpkins
Dia Del Muerto
I have no idea how this can be considered a scarecrow but it was pretty cool nonetheless.
Giselle
Crow White and the Seven Pumpkins
Dia Del Muerto
I have no idea how this can be considered a scarecrow but it was pretty cool nonetheless.
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