Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Growing Up

Every day I am amazed by the growth of my children.  But recently I have noticed that my little Ayden has just become a little man verse the little toddler I have always seen him as.  Now don't get me wrong we are still a threenager, however the other day all decked out in his button down shirt and jeans he looked grown up and I did not like it.  In all reality Ayden is our last biological child we will add to our family, and although I am so grateful for my two beautiful children that is a hard pill to swallow when your baby is getting to be so independent and grown.

The other day we were working on letters and I was just floored on how far along  he is when it comes to his knowledge of letters and phonics.  He wants to learn and eats it up as we give him knew knowledge, and the kid retains it, even though I think he may not be listening.  For example, when Audrey was three and had her conferences in February she still had struggled with a few letters to recognize in print, and to my amazement Ayden is right there.  Now Audrey could totally write her name, and with Ayden all we can do is make an "A" and spell his name.  That is where things get sticky though, I cannot compare the two kids.  They are so different and will continue to be different in so many ways.

Lets talk about physical abilities.  Ayden surpasses Audrey by far when it comes to physical stuff, but I think that comes with the territory.  He is a boy that loves to learn through discovery and play, where Audrey is okay with being the slow one.  Honestly I feel Audrey would love to be in physical therapy for the rest of her school career, but our pocket book is going to not be able to supply that dream if she wants to do other activities.  :)  Then there is speech.  Audrey was great and still is in her vocabulary and articulation.  With Ayden, we are in the process of getting him tested for speech this week because even though I can understand him, others around him struggle.  And for once I have found the proper route to go through, the school district, to get free services if that is the route we have to go through.  Now the even though I felt a little overwhelmed with the speech thing, I really cannot beat myself up over it.  Lets look at the situation, Ayden has a built in translator and speaker (Audrey) and he doesn't have to talk as much as she had to.  I know that Ayden is super smart, but if he needs help with his speech it can only help him become even more intelligent because then we all will understand him right?

I think I need to stop worrying about everything and realize that my kids are just perfect the way they are.  If they need a little extra help in certain areas, that is just fine, because at least we can get them the help they may need.  I am sure I could have benefited from a little physical therapy in my earlier years, but look at me now, oh wait lets not do that as I still run into walls.  But the bottom line is everything is going to be just fine and I need to stop overthinking it all and embrace the joys.

Monday, October 12, 2015

Life

Okay so let me be honest....even though I know that writing is a stress relief for me, it has totally taken the back burner.  The past few months I feel like I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off.  Shuttling kids here and there, making sure lunches and backpacks are packed, and trying to keep up with the daily things of life.  Seriously, just thinking about it just makes me exhausted, and that is what I am exhausted and I don't see any sign of things slowing down ever.  It is as if once both kids began school, my life revolves around school.  As an educator I should be used to this rat race, but as a mom I just am not getting the hang of everything as quickly as I would like.

I work with both kids on reading, letter identification, sounds and blends, one-to-one math correspondence, and I just want them to play.  Seriously the teacher inside of me should love the fact that my children have this drive, but at the same time, I want them to just play.  Play to learn and understand how to problem solve without having WW III in my home.  As much as I sometimes beat myself up because I tell my kids to color or play, instead of completing a craft or school related activity, I have to remember they are learning with all that they are doing.  But most of all, they are learning from me.  They learn by seeing how I react to things, how tired I probably must look as I run around trying to get all the things done on my to do list.

I probably should stop all this because in all reality my kids aren't going to remember if the chores all got done or if I made that fabulous meal, but rather they will remember that I spent time with them.  Time that I don't always feel I have because I have so much to do, but in all reality the rat race has just begun and can only get worse.  I need to embrace the time we have and the fact that the kids still want to spend time with me.  And I am going to be okay if I decide to go to bed after the kids go to sleep because lets face it mopping the floor at 8 pm is crazy in this season of life.  I know a little human will be awake at the butt crack of down to dirty that floor that I stayed up extra late to clean, so I should just save myself time and frustration and breathe and enjoy the life in front of me!

So when all is said and done, what I have wrote is all stuff I have heard and said before, but I really need to listen.  It is like this is my demon that I am constantly fighting, and it is about time I won instead of the demon!

Monday, September 14, 2015

Just when you think it can't get any worse....

Oh My Lanta!  I know that it has been forever and a day since I last blogged, but seriously I am having to prioritize and unfortunately blogging has become low on the priority list.  I know...sad right?  Seriously blogging is something that makes me happy, but I just have to give up on being so dedicated to writing every day.  I however have not given it up.  I just had to share this story with you all as I just thought my life couldn't get any crazier.

It all began yesterday.  A typical Sunday, but see it really wasn't because I was up from 1-5 because I was dealing with a child who was afraid of bugs and then I couldn't fall back to sleep.  I seriously struggle with this not falling back to sleep thing and it totally makes me a cranky and irritable person.  So regardless to say I was on edge yesterday and the kids well were taking things up a notch.  To the point where Tyler and I were discussing how fabulous that bottle of local  wine would taste late afternoon.  We just had a few things to complete before our day could wind down.  Church and the musical Pete the Cat were the two obligations and then we could tend to our laundry, dinner, and being a family.

We successfully made it through both things and honestly the kids occupied themselves nicely up until after dinner.  Then sheer fatigue set in for all of us.  At one point I was getting a graphic ready for my MOPS group and was messaging another momma, and while doing this my kids were fighting like cats and dogs and my husband was doing the dishes.  I was striving for mom and wife of the year at that point (nope!).  I just wanted to get my graphic done, get the kids to do 30 minutes of cleaning with me, and then it was pajama time.  It all worked out.  All three things were completed and then my kids realized that the neighbor kids were all still playing outside.  It was 7 pm and my kids need to wind down.  I know I may seem like a cruel momma, but these babies need their sleep and I don't care if the entire neighborhood is having a party or carnival, they were not going outside but rather getting ready for bed.  Then the tears came.  You know those tears of "It's not fair" or "You're the meanest more ever".  I just love those phrases, said no mom ever!

So at this point we were all losing our minds and that fabulous local wine had definitely stopped warming my insides and I just needed folks to be in bed.  It was agony.  I felt like I had gone to war and I was about ready to just lay on my sword and admit defeat, but I couldn't let the little humans win right?  And it would all be over soon, right?  Well everyone was in bed, crying when of course more chaos had to occur.  Seriously Lord, I am not sure I could handle any more at this point, but he had a little message for me.

That message was delivered to me as I read a Little Critter book to my son, praying that Audrey would stop crying like a crazy person, and then the noise downstair begun.  The only thing downstairs was our cat on our deck.  See our deck is an enclosed deck that has no steps so it is the best outdoor cage for an indoor cat who wants to seek adventure.  She basically takes cat naps out there and on hot days I fear she is baking her insides.  But Sunday night, that glorious evening of just hoping the kids could would go to sleep and I could have a little peace was quickly interupted by loud banging, meowing, screeching, and nails scratching on glass and linoleum.

I hear all the commotion and throw the book at Ayden and run downstairs.  I knew the cat had something, and honestly I had no idea what, but when I got downstairs I found our cat in a very proud stance with one paw on a poor sparrows neck.  Seriously this cat was pausing for me as all these tiny feathers were floating all around my kitchen floor.  Imagine someone getting caught in a pillow fight with down pillows and all the pillows drifting around, that was the scene I walked into except I had a cat ready to slaughter a bird and all I could think about was what a mess that thing would make if it flew around our house if the cat had already slashed it.

I don't even know how this worked out so perfectly, but I pushed the cat out of the way and scooped up the bird.  The poor thing looked at me with the eyes of gratitude and the cat began meowing and trying to climb up my leg.  Seriously cat, your fun is over.  While all this is going on, low and behold, Tyler has no clue what is going on.  I had to yell upstairs for him to open our basement slider so that I could place the bird on the grass because I had no idea how much damage may have been done.  Tyler of course was shocked to see me holding a bird and all I can think is how did you not hear all this going on?  Then again he was in the room with wailing Audrey so I guess I should cut him some slack.

I released the bird and it miraculously flew out of my hands and went about its evening, all while I am thinking this did not happen.  Like seriously how in the world do these things happen to the Evans' family.  It is little chaos that just makes me laugh.  I know see the message as I wake up with new eyes for a new day.  We were to not sweat the small stuff, you know the screaming and crying, because even though it may seem like a big deal at the time it really is nothing compared to having a cat sit on your throat with her claws out and ready to go in for the kill.  There are days I feel like my kids are sitting on my waiting to go in for the kill, end my sanity right then and there, and then I have to remember guess what they are kids.  And you know what makes it even easier to get through that though?  That there is fabulous wine that can always help bring the chaos view down a notch or two.

Happy Monday folks!

Friday, August 21, 2015

2 Kids to 1

I feel super guilty writing about this, but after a few days of Audrey at kindergarten I have noticed something...having only one kid around during the day is easy in some regards.  I mean Ayden doesn't keep himself as entertained as well as he does with Audrey around, but he can find things to do independently and I can actually get things done.  Like really done, and the activities we can do together are genuine.  Not that anything I did with two kids wasn't, but I just feel like this is the first time that Ayden and I really have had that time to engage in some conversations.  Of course it was just Ayden and I when Audrey was at preschool, but that was for a short period of time and we did a lot of errands during that time and he was not into talking and learning as much as he is now.

We made jam yesterday and I was just amazed on how intrigued he was on measuring and what the ingredients in the jam were.  And the crazy thing is he can tell me right now which container holds instant pectin and sugar.  It is almost as if the distance from Audrey and the fact that we have more time together, a fire has been ignited.  The kid just floors me.  I knew he was smart, but the fact that he has to practice his letters and numbers the moment we get home after dropping Audrey off at school makes me realize he will just be fine at preschool this year.

But there is this weird guilt I have.  I feel guilty that Audrey is at school working hard, and Ayden and I are off on our adventures.  Whether it is going to the Children's Museum or just staying home and making cookies (it's on the agenda for the next couple days), these are things I used to do with Audrey and Ayden and I sometimes feel guilt.  However to my surprise yesterday she did make the comment when she found out we went to the museum that us going was just fine because she was at school being a big kid.  As long as she continues with this great attitude, I guess I shouldn't feel guilty for doing the activities.  Plus, Ayden and I have to get out of the house because otherwise we may go a little stir crazy.

I will continue to feel a little guilty, but at the same time I love the fact that I can get so much more done and the little trips like going to Target are far easier than with two:)

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Kindergarten Survival

You can sense the theme here.  It's kindergarten.  This is my reality now and I am just trying to cope over here.

The first day went okay.  I say okay because even though Audrey was super excited and said she had a great time, Ayden and I struggled.

We began our day with lots of First Day of Kindergarten pictures.  I survived with no tears.  We parked the car and walked up to the school and surprisingly there were no tears.  I was very surprised on how well I was doing, and then it hit me.  Audrey wanted to take a picture with her teacher, and things got real. Like I snapped the pictured, pulled Audrey to the line she was to stand in, and literally tapped out of the situation and very aggressively told Tyler to take over.  The tears were streaming and I could not make them stop, but I did not want her to see me because well that would make things bad, so I hid behind Ayden as I held him.  I am sure there were tons of folks thinking, Lord help that lady, but at that point I did not care.  I was sad and was being consoled with gentle pats on the back by my 3 year old.

I think as Audrey walked off in line into the school, it got me the most.  She didn't even look back at us, she confidently walked into the school and I knew she was going to be fine, but ugh...the tears.  There was a Boo Hoo breakfast that we could go to after the kids went in, but I decided that since I was already a hot mess I just couldn't do it.  After we got to the car, I cried some more and began to bawl once Ayden began singing his own song about how Audrey was going to school and he wanted her to stay home with him.  The kid was literally singing the blues, but at least I know he truly does love her.

Ayden and I sat at the table and he ate some breakfast while I drank some coffee.  He kept asking what was wrong with me because I kept crying.  I seriously ugly cried for at least an hour and a half, but hopefully the crying is over for now.  I mean I don't think I have any tears left!

With all that being said, we all survived.  This will be a transition for us all, but I know Audrey is happy and will enjoy her kindergarten year.  Ayden and I will be adjusting to the change, but before I know it he will be starting preschool up in September and hopefully a new set of emotions will not be overcoming me.  Who am I kidding, I may be crying the next couple weeks, but as everything in life, this to shall pass.

Here's to hoping I can keep it together when I drop her off today!





Tuesday, August 18, 2015

A Kindergarten Letter

I have totally seen this on social media going around and I have refrained from reading any of them because of all the tears that would fall.  Therefore I am going to be that mom and write my daughter a letter and cry while doing it.

Dear Sweet Audrey,

I can still remember the day you were born.  The fateful day that you made me a mom, and made all my confidence go out the door but made my heart love more than I ever thought possible.  I have always been able to be feel confident in whatever job I have taken on, that was until I became a mom.  You made me a momma and you have helped me grow and discover that we do not have to be the best at everything, however you have a way in making me feel that I do a pretty good job at doing this mom thing.  

Today you will take a walk into school and you will be ready to conquer the world.  With the deep caring for others and fiery passion, you will do well.  I tell myself these things because I have to remember that it will be okay and that you can do all this, however it is my lack of confidence that has me in tears.  Did I prepare you for every situation you will encounter?  Was I too hard on you before you went to bed and will you second guess how much I truly love you?  Deep down I know you will be fine, but why are my insecurities hindering my happiness of letting you go and begin this next chapter in your little life?  

I have complained many days that you and your brother were driving me bonkers, and quite frankly it was probably true, but even though it brought stress at the time, I am no longer going to have two kiddos in my house on a daily basis.  Your little ways of helping will be missed more than either of us know until I experience it.  The house will not be filled with chatter and maybe Ayden and I will be able to decide what to do for the day rather than having our event planner (that would be you) telling us what we should do for our day.  

With that all being said as a former teacher, I now look at the first day of school in a new light.  A light that I am not sure I am ready for, but time has left me no choice.  So Audrey Raschel, you go and enjoy every last minute of kindergarten.  I want you to enjoy your new friends, teachers, and school.  I want you to be happy and never lose that sparkle in your eye and your thirst for knowledge.  This is only the beginning, and we will have many chapters to open to in the future, but this one is big.   

Enjoy and be happy my sweet baby girl.

Love,

Mom

Monday, August 17, 2015

Questions

Today was going to be my sappy letter to Audrey on kindergarten post, but I just can't even start that right now!  I am a hot emotional mess with the thought of kindergarten, and then I am snapped out of that funk when I am asked the question of the year by Ayden, "When are we going to Disney World?"  You know it wouldn't be bad if he asked me this a couple times a week, but this kid does not let up.  Obviously you sense my frustration and I better back up for some of you to shed some light on the situation.

Last Thursday Ayden found the Disney World planning DVD.  It has a little catalog and a DVD that they kids watched last year about the park.  If you haven't caught on by now the Evans' family is a planning family so we like to make sure we have all our options covered before jumping into a big purchase or planning a vacation.  So the kid found the DVD and has done nothing but talk about Disney World.  Friday we threw an epic tantrum because we couldn't go to Disney World tomorrow.  Seriously child it's not like we can just go, it's not like we are just going to the zoo!  We got through the tantrum, but the why question came up frequently and Ayden just could not shake the idea.  I have to give him credit for being determined.

On Saturday, Tyler thought that if he discussed the whole Disney World process, Ayden would understand that it's not just a trip you go do, it has to be planned.  Well this obviously lit a fire under Ayden because after lunch Ayden asked, "How many more minutes until we go to Disney World?"  Literally my eye is still twitching from this because Tyler made the situation worse.  Now Ayden has specific things about Disney World to talk about, which just keeps these questions going and driving me to the brink of insanity.

I just love that Ayden is inquisitive and he wants to know things, but geesh child let go of Disney World for a bit.  Although I have to be careful what I wish for because on Saturday we did have a tantrum because it isn't time to make Christmas cookies.  We also lost our minds over when Halloween is and when it was time to go pick apples.

In all reality Ayden is just struggling with the concept of time, but with all his questions it is getting a little annoying.  I really don't remember going through this with Audrey.  I do remember having these conversations of when things were going to happen, but not to this degree.  I remember the why questions, but the craziness that Ayden brings to the table with his questions does keep me on my feet, however my wine consumption has increased.

Therefore, if you see me around with that look of despair in my eyes, you can pretty much guess I have been asked about Disney World and I am just counting down the minutes until we go as well because I just want this question to stop!